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{{Short description|American politician (born 1950)}}
{{Infobox Governor
{{distinguish|Rick Parry}}
|name = Rick Perry
{{pp-blp|small=yes}}
|image = Rick Perry in March 2010.jpg
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2019}}
|order = 47th
{{Infobox officeholder
|office = Governor of Texas
| name = Rick Perry
|term_start = December 21, 2000
| image = Rick Perry official portrait (tight crop).jpg
|term_end =
| caption = Official portrait, 2017
|lieutenant = ]&nbsp;<small>(2000-2003)</small><br/>]&nbsp;<small>(2003-present)</small>
| office = 14th ]
|predecessor = ]
|successor = Incumbent | president = ]
|order2 = 39th | deputy = Dan Brouillette
| term_start = March 2, 2017
|office2 = Lieutenant Governor of Texas
|term_start2 = January 19, 1999 | term_end = December 1, 2019
| predecessor = ]
|term_end2 = December 21, 2000
|governor2 = ] | successor = ]
| order1 = 47th ]
|predecessor2 = ]
|successor2 = ] | lieutenant1 = ]<br />]
| term_start1 = December 21, 2000
|order3 = 9th
| term_end1 = January 20, 2015
|office3 = Texas Agriculture Commissioner
| predecessor1 = ]
|term_start3 = 1991
| successor1 = ]
|term_end3 = 1998
| office2 = 39th ]
|governor3 = ] (1991-1995)<br>] (1995-1999)
| governor2 = George W. Bush
|predecessor3 = ]
| term_start2 = January 19, 1999
|successor3 = ]
| term_end2 = December 21, 2000
|office4 = Member of the<br>]<br>from the 64th district
| predecessor2 = ]
|term_start4 = 1985
| successor2 = Bill Ratliff
|term_end4 = 1991
| office3 = 9th ]
|constituency4= ]
| governor3 = ]<br />George W. Bush
|predecessor4 = Joe C. Hanna
| term_start3 = January 15, 1991
|successor4 = John R. Cook
| term_end3 = January 19, 1999
|birth_date = {{birth date and age |1950|03|4}}
| predecessor3 = ]
|birth_place = ]
|residence = ] | successor3 = ]
| state_house4 = Texas
|spouse = ]
| district4 = ]
|children = Griffin Perry<br/>Sydney Perry
| term_start4 = January 8, 1985
|profession = ]
| term_end4 = January 8, 1991
|alma_mater = ]
| predecessor4 = ]
|party = ]&nbsp;(1989-present)<br/> ]&nbsp;(1968-1989)
|religion = ] | successor4 = ]
| birth_name = James Richard Perry
|branch=]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1950|3|4}}
|rank=]
| birth_place = ], U.S.
|footnotes = Perry was succeeded by ] in the lieutenant governor's post by a vote of the Texas Senate in which Ratliff served until the election and inauguration of ]. See related articles for details.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = ] (since 1989)
| otherparty = ] (before 1989)
| spouse = {{marriage|]|1982}}
| children = 2
| education = ] (])
| signature = Rick Perry signature.svg
| website = {{URL|https://www.energy.gov/contributors/rick-perry|Department of Energy website}}
| allegiance = United States
| branch = ]
| serviceyears = 1972–1977<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2015/03/06/captain-rick-perry-time-for-a-military-man-in-the-white-house-commentary.html |title=Captain Rick Perry: Time for a military man in the White House? |last=Kudlow |first=Larry |date=March 6, 2015 |publisher=] |access-date=September 13, 2016}}</ref>
| rank = ]
| unit = 772nd Tactical Airlift Squadron
}} }}
{{Rick Perry series}}


'''James Richard "Rick" Perry''' (born ], ]) is the ], having held the office since 2000. He is a member of the ]. '''James Richard Perry''' (born March 4, 1950) is an American politician who served as the 14th ] from 2017 to 2019 in the ] of ]. He previously served as the ] from 2000 to 2015 and ran unsuccessfully for the ] nomination for ] in the ] and ] elections.


Born into a family of cotton farmers in ], Perry graduated from ] in 1972 and entered into the ], serving a five-year stint and achieving the rank of ].<ref name="auto3">{{cite web |url=http://www.usglc.org/2011/08/12/rick-perry/ |title=Candidates' Corner 2012– Rick Perry |publisher=U.S. Global Leadership Coalition &#124; American Foreign Policy & Foreign Affairs – Usglc.org |date=August 13, 2011 |access-date=August 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514054016/http://www.usglc.org/2011/08/12/rick-perry/ |archive-date=May 14, 2012 }}</ref> After leaving the Air Force in 1977, Perry returned to Texas and entered politics, serving as a member of the ] from 1985 to 1991. Initially a ], Perry switched parties in 1989 and became a ], and was elected ] the following year. In 1998, Perry was elected ], becoming the state's first Republican Lieutenant Governor since ].
Elected ] in 1998, he assumed office as governor in December 2000 when Governor ] resigned before his inauguration as ]. Perry was elected to two full terms in 2002 and 2006.


Perry assumed the governorship of Texas in December 2000, after Governor ] resigned following his ]. Perry was re-elected Governor three times, becoming the longest-serving governor in Texas history. As Governor, Perry identified as a staunch ], enacting ], ] and expanded ].<ref name="auto">{{cite press release|url=http://governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/2426|title=Gov. Perry Signs Landmark Business Tax Reform|publisher=Office of the Governor|date=May 18, 2006|access-date=August 7, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820081008/http://governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/2426/|archive-date=August 20, 2011}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{cite web|url=http://governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/3598|title=Gov. Perry Signs Bills to Protect Gun Owners' Rights|publisher=Office of the Governor Rick Perry|access-date=August 14, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820083644/http://governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/3598/|archive-date=August 20, 2011}}</ref> Long considered a potential presidential candidate, Perry officially announced his candidacy for the ] in August 2011. Perry initially performed well in polling and showed strong fundraising prowess, leading to him being considered a serious contender for the nomination. However, his support declined following debates and early primaries, and he withdrew from the race in January 2012.<ref name="nyt120119a" />
Perry served as chairman of the ] in 2008, succeeding ] of ]. He now serves as Finance Chair.


Perry declined to seek re-election to a fourth term as Governor and left office in 2015, launching a ] shortly thereafter. Perry's second presidential campaign failed to garner substantial polling support, fundraising or media attention, leading him to withdraw from the race after only three months.<ref name="auto1">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/11/politics/rick-perry-2016-campaign-suspended/index.html|title=Rick Perry drops out of 2016 presidential race − CNNPolitics.com|author=Theodore Schleifer|date=September 11, 2015|work=CNN|access-date=September 13, 2015}}</ref> Perry was initially a vocal opponent of Donald Trump's ], however, he later endorsed Trump after he secured the Republican nomination.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/05/05/politics/rick-perry-endorses-donald-trump/index.html|title=First on CNN: Rick Perry endorses Donald Trump for president|first=Dana|last=Bash|date= May 6, 2016|work=CNN|access-date=January 23, 2021}}</ref> After ], Trump appointed Perry as Secretary of Energy, and he was confirmed by the ] in a 62–37 vote on March 2, 2017. On October 17, 2019, Perry reported to Trump that he intended to resign as ] at the end of the year. He left office on December 1, 2019.<ref name="HillLastDay">{{Cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/472552-perry-ends-final-day-as-energy-secretary |title=Perry ends final day as Energy secretary |last=Bowden |first=John |date=December 1, 2019 |work=The Hill |access-date=December 2, 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
Perry holds all records for Texas gubernatorial tenure, having broken both ]' consecutive service record of 7 1/2 years in June 2008 and ]' total service record of eight years (over two non-consecutive terms) in December 2008. As a result, the '']'' reported in December 2008 that Perry has the distinction of being the only governor in modern Texas history to have appointed at least one person to every possible state office, board, or commission position which requires gubernatorial appointment (as well as to several elected offices to which the governor can appoint someone to fill an unexpired term, such as five of the nine current members of the ]). Should Perry complete his current term on January 18, 2011, he will become the first Governor of Texas to complete two consecutive four-year terms. He is also the second longest-serving current Governor in the United States (] Governor ] is the longest-serving, having taken office a mere six days before Perry).


==Early life==
Perry has announced his intention to run for an unprecedented third consecutive four-year term in 2010. He faced a challenge in the Republican ] from ] ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/national/stories/120508dnpolhutch.2d91385f.html |title=Hutchison signals she's ready for a showdown with Perry in 2010|date=2008-12-04 |accessdate=2008-12-30 |author=Slater, Wayne |publisher=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/texas/tom_schieffer_to_make_gubernatorial_run#13585768-3|title=Tom Schieffer to make gubernatorial run|accessdate=2009-03-02 |author=Hoff, Jenny |publisher=]|date=02 Mar 2009}}</ref> and former Wharton County Republican Party Chairwoman and businesswoman ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.leader-news.com/news/2009/0328/front_page/004.html|title=County GOP Chair considers run for governor's post|accessdate=2009-04-20 |author=Barbee, Chris |publisher=leader-news.com|date=28 Mar 2009}}</ref> Perry led in primary and general election polling.<ref>http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_governor_elections/texas/election_2010_texas_governor</ref><ref>http://www.realclearpolitics.com/politics_nation/2009/07/tx_gov_perry_leads_hutchison_i.html</ref>
A fifth-generation Texan, Perry was born on March 4, 1950, in ], and raised in ], the son of dryland cotton farmers Joseph Ray Perry and Amelia June Holt Perry. He has one older sister. Perry's ancestry is almost entirely English, dating as far back as the original ]. His family has been in Texas since before the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/celeb/perry.htm|title=rick perry|publisher=Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com|access-date=March 12, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111230062043/http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/celeb/perry.htm|archive-date=December 30, 2011}}{{better source needed |date=October 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Perry|title=Surname Database: Perry Last Name Origin|publisher=Surnamedb.com|access-date=March 12, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/19/us/politics/paint-creek-tex-remembers-rick-perry.html |title=Paint Creek, the Town Perry Left Behind |first=Deborah |last=Sontag |date=September 18, 2011 |work=] |access-date=October 13, 2019 }}</ref>


His father, a ], was a long-time Haskell County commissioner and school board member. Perry has said that his interest in politics probably began in November 1961, when his father took him to the funeral of U.S. Representative ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Richard L. Connor: Texas' Perry might surprise Obama in 2012|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2011/06/05/texas-perry-might-surprise-obama-in-2012_2011-06-05/ |first=Richard L. |last=Connor |access-date=January 4, 2017|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|date=June 5, 2011}}</ref>
At 9:30 PM Central Time on 3/2/10, Kay Bailey Hutchinson conceded victory to Rick Perry, his 51% share of the vote assuring his Republican Nomination for Governor without a runoff.<ref>http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/86085567.html</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/03/02/hutchison-concedes-republican-gubernatorial-primary-gov-perry/ |title=Hutchinson Concedes</ref><ref>http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/33806.html</ref>


Perry was in the ] (BSA) and earned the rank of ].<ref name="bio">{{cite web|url=http://www.governor.state.tx.us/about |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060206231926/http://www.governor.state.tx.us/about |archive-date=February 6, 2006 |title=Texas Governor Rick Perry|publisher=Office of the Governor|access-date=November 8, 2006}}</ref> The BSA has honored Perry with the ].<ref name="PerryDESA">{{cite web|url=http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/02-529.pdf|title=Distinguished Eagle Scout Award|publisher=]|access-date=November 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312002744/http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/02-529.pdf|archive-date=March 12, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Early life==
A fifth-generation Texan, Perry was born in tiny ], about {{convert|60|mi|km}} north of ] in ], to ]s Joseph Ray Perry and the former Amelia June Holt. His father, a ], was a long-time ] commissioner and ] member. Perry graduated from ] in 1968. As a child, Perry was in the ] (BSA) and earned the rank of ], as his son, Griffin, would also later become an Eagle Scout.<ref name="PerryEagle">{{cite web |url=http://www.governor.state.tx.us/about|title=Rick Perry |publisher=Office of the Governor |accessdate=2006-11-08}}</ref><ref name="perryCNSNEWS">{{cite web|url=http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=3388|title= Texas Governor Urges Protection for Boy Scouts |last=Lucas|first=Fred|publisher=Western Voices World News via CNSnews.com|accessdate=2009-04-25}}</ref> The BSA honored Perry with the ].<ref name="PerryDESA">{{cite web |date=December 31, 2008|url=http://members.cox.net/scouting179/Eagle%20Distinguished.htm|title=Distinguished Eagle Scout Award |work=Fact Sheet |publisher=Boy Scouts of America |accessdate=2009-04-25}}</ref>


===College===
Perry attended ] where he was a member of the ] and one of A&M's 5 male cheerleaders<ref name=time20090125></ref> (called "]" at Texas A&M). He graduated in 1972 with a degree in animal science. While at Texas A&M University Perry successfully completed a static line parachute jump at Ags Over Texas (a United States Parachute Association dropzone), the dropzone that was then in operation at Coulter Field (KCFD) in ], just north of Texas A&M (in College Station, Texas).
Perry attended ] where he was a member of the ] and the ] fraternity. He was elected senior class social secretary, a member and ] in ], and one of A&M's five ].<ref name=time20090125>{{cite news|last=Hylton|first=Hilary|url=http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1873143,00.html |title=Bush Returns to a Divided Texas Republican Party|magazine=]|date=January 25, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/cheerleading-politics/story?id=16380524#5 |title=From Cheerleading to Politics |work=] |date=May 19, 2012 |access-date=September 13, 2016 |first=Arlette |last=Saenz }}</ref> He graduated in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science degree in ].<ref name=aggiestime>{{cite news|last=Hooks|first=Chris|url=http://www.texastribune.org/texas-people/rick-perry/perry-aggie-years|title=Texas A&M Years Launched Perry – and a Rivalry|work=]|location=Austin|date=August 2, 2011|access-date=August 7, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Trivia question: Which presidential candidate has a degree in economics?|url=http://caucuses.desmoinesregister.com/2011/09/21/trivia-question-which-presidential-candidate-has-a-degree-in-economics/|date=September 21, 2011|first=Jennifer|last=Jacobs|work=]|access-date=November 12, 2011|archive-date=May 30, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120530155005/http://caucuses.desmoinesregister.com/2011/09/21/trivia-question-which-presidential-candidate-has-a-degree-in-economics/|url-status=dead}}</ref>


In 1989, he said, "I was probably a bit of a free spirit, not particularly structured real well for life outside of a military regime, I would have not lasted at ] or the ]. I would have hit the fraternity scene and lasted about one semester."<ref name=aggiestime/>
Upon graduation, he was commissioned in the ], completed pilot training and flew ] tactical airlift in the United States, the ], and ] until 1977. He left the Air Force with the rank of ], returned to Texas and went into business farming ] with his father.


===First jobs===
In 1982, Perry married ], his childhood sweetheart whom he had known since ]. They have two children, Griffin and Sydney. Anita Perry attended ] and earned a degree in ]. She has spearheaded a number of health-related initiatives such as the Anita Thigpen Perry Endowment at the ], which focuses on nutrition, ], ], and early childhood programming.
In the early 1970s, Perry interned during several summers with ], as a door-to-door book salesman. "I count my time working for Dortch Oldham ]] as one of the most important formative experiences of my life", Perry said in 2010. "There is nothing that tests your commitment to a goal like getting a few doors closed in your face." He said that "Mr. Oldham taught legions of young people to communicate quickly, clearly and with passion, a lesson that has served me well in my life since then."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nashvillepost.com/news/2009/2/27/dortch_oldham_dies_at_89 |title=Dortch Oldham dies at 89 |access-date=December 2, 2010 |last=Wood |first=E. Thomas |date=February 27, 2009 |publisher=]}}</ref>


Upon graduation from college in 1972, Perry was commissioned as an officer in the ] and completed pilot training in February 1974. He was then assigned as a ] pilot with the ] at ], located in Abilene, Texas. Perry's duties included two-month overseas rotations at ], located in ], England, and ], located at Frankfurt am Main, Germany. His missions included a 1974 ] drought relief effort in ], ] and ], and, in 1976, earthquake relief in ].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/26/us/politics/for-rick-perry-air-force-service-broadened-and-narrowed-life.html |work=The New York Times |title=For Rick Perry, Air Force Service Broadened and Narrowed Life |date=November 25, 2011 |first=Sherly Gay |last=Stolberg |access-date=October 13, 2019 }}</ref> He left the Air Force in 1977 at the rank of ], returned to Texas, and went into farming cotton with his father.<ref name="auto3"/>
Perry has said that his interest in politics probably began in November 1961, when, at the age of eleven, his father took him to the ] of the legendary ], who during his long public career served as ] of the Texas House and the U.S. ]. Dignitaries from all over the nation came to the small town of ], the seat of ], for the official farewell to Rayburn.


==Early political career==
==Texas Legislature==
] in 1990]]
In ], Perry was elected to the ] as a Democrat from a district (64) that included his home county of ]. He served on the important House Appropriations and Calendars committees during his three two-year terms in office. One of the freshman legislators that he befriended was ] of Austin, a staunch ] Democrat who endorsed Perry's reelection bid in 2006 on personal, rather than philosophical, grounds. Perry was part of the "Pit Bulls", a group of Appropriations members who sat on the lower dais in the committee room (or "pit") who pushed for austere state budgets during the lean ].


===Texas Legislature===
In ], '']'' named him one of the most effective legislators in the 71st Legislature.{{Citation needed|date=February 2009}} That same year, Perry announced that he was ].{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}}
In 1984, Perry was elected to the ] as a Democrat from district 64, which included his home county of ]. He served on the House Appropriations and Calendars committees during his three two-year terms in office. He befriended fellow freshman state representative ], a staunch liberal Democrat who endorsed Perry's reelection bid in 2006.


Perry was part of the "Pit Bulls", a group of Appropriations members who sat on the lower dais in the committee room ("the pit") who pushed for austere state budgets during the 1980s.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2011/07/rick-perry-presidential-race-former-democrat/1 |title=GOP's Rick Perry spent early years as a Democrat |first=Catalina |last=Camia |work=USA Today |date=July 15, 2011 |access-date=August 18, 2011}}</ref> At one point, '']'' named him one of the ten most effective members of the legislature.<ref>{{cite web |title=71st Legislature, 6th C.S., HR63. |url=http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/scanned/members/honorary/71/Perry_Rick_HR63.pdf |year=1990 |publisher=Legislative Reference Library of Texas |access-date=August 13, 2011}}</ref>
==Agriculture Commissioner==
In 1990, he challenged ] Democratic ] ]. Hightower had worked on behalf of ] for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988, while Perry had supported ] ] of ]. Perry narrowly unseated Hightower, even as the Republican gubernatorial candidate, ], went down to defeat at the hands of ].<ref name="New Faces Replace Washington-Bound Governors, Stateline.org January 2001"></ref>


In 1987, Perry voted for a $5.7 billion tax increase proposed by Republican Governor ].<ref>Jay Root, '']'' July 14, 2011.</ref> Perry supported ] in the 1988 Democratic presidential primaries and worked for Gore's campaign in Texas.<ref name="poli_Rick">{{cite web | title = Rick Perry backed Al Gore, didn't lead his Texas campaign | last = Selby | first = W. Gardner | work = PolitiFact Texas | date = September 7, 2011 | access-date = June 4, 2015 | url = http://www.politifact.com/texas/article/2011/sep/07/perry-backed-gore-did-not-lead-his-texas-campaign/ }}</ref> On September 29, 1989, Perry announced that he was switching parties, becoming a Republican.<ref> ''Dallas Morning News'' February 19, 2010.</ref> On a guest appearance on ] show ], he partially credits Reagan as part of the reason he became a Republican, also stating he switched political parties sooner in his life than Reagan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2011/sep/06/rick-perry/rick-perry-says-he-switched-gop-younger-age-reagan/|title=Rick Perry says he switched to GOP at a younger age than Reagan did|website=PolitiFact|language=en|access-date=2020-01-05}}</ref>
As Agriculture Commissioner, Perry was responsible for promoting the sale of Texas farm produce to other states and foreign nations and supervising the calibration of weights and measures, such as ] pumps and ] scales.


===Agriculture Commissioner===
In 1994, Perry was reelected Agriculture Commissioner by a large margin, having polled 2,546,287 votes (61.92 percent) to Democrat Marvin Gregory's 1,479,692 (35.98 percent). ] Clyde L. Garland received the remaining 85,836 votes (2.08 percent).<ref name="1994 General Election">http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/</ref>
In 1990, as a newly minted Republican, Perry challenged ], the incumbent Democratic ]. ] was Perry's campaign manager.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bickerstaff|first1=Steve|title=Lines in the Sand: Congressional Redistricting in Texas and the Downfall of Tom DeLay|date=2010|publisher=University of Texas Press|isbn=9780292783058 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KK69yQUbpbAC&pg=PA21 |page=21}}</ref>


In the Republican primary on March 13, 1990, Perry polled 276,558 votes (47%), with ] garnering 176,976 votes (30%) and Gene L. Duke, who placed third, polling 132,497 votes (23%).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=783049|title=TX Agriculture Commissioner – R Primary Race – Mar 13, 1990|work=Our Campaigns|access-date=February 4, 2016}}</ref> Since Perry fell shy of the necessary 50% to win outright, a runoff was held between Perry and McIver set on April 10, 1990. In the runoff, he emerged victorious, garnering 96,649 votes (69%) to McIver's 43,921 votes (31%).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=783050|title=TX Agriculture Commissioner – R Runoff Race |date=April 10, 1990|work=Our Campaigns|access-date=February 4, 2016}}</ref>
==Lieutenant Governor==
In 1998, Perry chose not to seek a third term as Agriculture Commissioner, but instead ran for ] to succeed the retiring Democrat ]. Perry polled 1,858,837 votes (50.04 percent) to the 1,790,106 (48.19 percent) cast for Democrat ] of ], who had relinquished the ] position after two terms to seek the lieutenant governorship. ] Anthony Garcia polled another 65,150 votes (1.75 percent).<ref name="1994 General Election" /> Perry thus became the first lieutenant governor of Texas elected from the Republican Party.


During 1990, Hightower's office was embroiled in an FBI investigation into corruption and bribery. Three aides were convicted in 1993 of using public funds for political fundraising, although Hightower himself was not found to be involved in the wrongdoings.<ref> ]. November 11, 1993</ref> Perry narrowly defeated Hightower in November 1990, garnering 1,864,463 votes (49%) to Hightower's 1,820,145 votes (48%).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=309970 |title=TX Agriculture Commissioner Race |date=November 6, 1990 |publisher=Our Campaigns|access-date=February 4, 2016}}</ref>
==Governor==
] in ].]]
Perry assumed the office of Governor late in 2000 when ] resigned to prepare for his ], becoming the first Texas A&M graduate to serve as Governor.


Rove raised $3 million to raise Perry's profile, "while tarnishing the name of Jim Hightower" resulting in Perry's name becoming a "household name in Texas—and Hightower's name synonymous with corruption".<ref>{{cite book|first1=Lou|last1=Dubose|first2=Jan|last2=Reid|first3=Carl M.|last3=Cannon|title=Boy Genius: Karl Rove, the Brains Behind the Remarkable Political Triumph of George W. Bush|date=2003|publisher=PublicAffairs|isbn=9781586481926|page=|url=https://archive.org/details/boygeniuskarlrov00dubo/page/43}}</ref>
Perry won the office in his own right in the ] when he defeated ] businessman ], polling 2,632,591 votes (57.80 percent) to Sanchez's 1,819,798 (39.96 percent). Four minor candidates shared 2.21 percent of the vote.<ref name="1994 General Election" />


As Agriculture Commissioner, Perry was responsible for promoting the sale of Texas farm produce to other states and foreign nations, and for supervising the calibration of weights and measures, such as ] pumps and ] scales.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.agr.state.tx.us/agr/main_render/0,1968,1848_8330_0_0,00.html?channelId=8330 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060822090027/http://www.agr.state.tx.us/agr/main_render/0%2C1968%2C1848_8330_0_0%2C00.html?channelId=8330 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 22, 2006 |title=What is the Texas Department of Agriculture? |publisher=Texas Department of Agriculture |access-date=August 18, 2011 }}</ref>
The ] proved to be a stiffer challenge. Though he easily defeated token opposition in the primary election, Perry faced a six-way race involving former Democratic ] ], ] candidate James Werner (a sales consultant); and three ] candidates &ndash; outgoing Republican state ] ] (who chose not to face Perry in the primary race when early polling data suggested she would lose badly), well-known Texas ] ] ], and write-in candidate James "Patriot" Dillon. Perry won the race in a ], polling 1,714,618 votes (39 percent) to Bell's 1,309,774 (29.8 percent), Strayhorn's 789,432 (18 percent), Friedman's 553,327 (12.6 percent), and Werner's 26,726 (0.6 percent). Dillon garnered a mere 718 votes. Perry became only the third governor in state history to have been elected by a plurality of less than 40 percent of votes cast (the 1853 and 1861 races also featured plurality winners carrying under 40 percent).


In April 1993, Perry, while serving as Texas agriculture commissioner, expressed support for the effort ] the nation's healthcare, describing it as "most commendable".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2011/sep/24/ron-paul/ron-paul-says-rick-perry-wrote-letter-supporting-h/|title=Ron Paul says Rick Perry wrote a letter supporting Hillarycare|date=September 24, 2011|work=] / ]|access-date=October 18, 2011|first=Meghan|last=Ashford-Grooms}}</ref> The healthcare plan, first revealed in September, was ultimately ] due to Republican congressional opposition.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Perry-letter-commending-Hillary-Clinton-found-1914428.phpa|title=Perry letter commending Hillary Clinton found|date=March 29, 2005|work=Houston Chronicle|author=R.G. Ratcliffe}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aim.org/newswire/tea-party-faithful-wonder-if-rick-perry-walks-the-walk/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101210038/http://www.aim.org/newswire/tea-party-faithful-wonder-if-rick-perry-walks-the-walk/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 1, 2011 |title=Tea Party faithful wonder if Rick Perry walks the walk |publisher=]|date=August 10, 2011|access-date=October 10, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.texastribune.org/texas-politics/2012-presidential-election/perry-social-conservatives-and-the-road-to-the-top/|title=Perry, Social Conservatives and the Road to the Top|date=July 14, 2011 |first=Ross|last=Ramsey |work=The Texas Tribune }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://blog.mysanantonio.com/texas-politics/2009/09/the-video-perrys-campaign-cant-resist-using/ |title=The video Perry's campaign can't resist using |date=September 10, 2009 |first=R.G.|last=Ratcliffe |work=San Antonio Express-News}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FVsLGFxrMDIC&pg=PA123 |title = Going Dirty: The Art of Negative Campaigning|isbn = 9780742599826|last1 = Mark|first1 = David|date = April 16, 2009| publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers }}</ref> In 2005, after being questioned on the issue by a potential opponent in the Republican governor primary, Perry said he expressed his support only in order to get Clinton to pay more attention to rural healthcare.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Perry-says-Hutchison-Clinton-video-politics-as-1660157.php|title=Perry says Hutchison-Clinton video politics as usual |date=March 30, 2005 |work=Houston Chronicle |first=R.G.|last=Ratcliffe}}</ref>
Perry is a member of the ], the ], the ], and the ].


In 1994, Perry was reelected Agriculture Commissioner by a large margin, getting 2,546,287 votes (62 percent) to Democrat Marvin Gregory's 1,479,692 (36 percent). ] Clyde L. Garland received the remaining 85,836 votes (2 percent).<ref name="1994 General Election">{{cite web |url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/ |title=Office of the Secretary of State : 1992 – Current ELECTION HISTORY |publisher=Elections.oso.state.tx.us |access-date=May 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815140750/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/ |archive-date=August 15, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Gregory, a chicken farmer from ], was on the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority with Perry in the early nineties as a Republican but became a Democrat before running against Perry in 1994.<ref>{{cite news |work=Texas Monthly |date=September 2011|url=http://www.texasmonthly.com/2011-09-01/feature7.php|title=The Great Campaigner|first=Mimi|last=Swartz}}</ref>
Early in his term as governor Perry worked to make health care more accessible. He pushed through the ] (CHIP) designed to insure 500,000 children{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}} and convinced the state Legislature to increase health funding by $6 billion.{{Citation needed|date=December 2007}} Some of these programs have since faced funding reductions and Governor Perry has refused to resume funding to previous levels even though Federal Matching Funds for Healthcare above and beyond the amount dedicated by the legislature would be available. He also increased school funding prior to the 2002 election and created new ] programs to help needy children, including $300 million for the Texas GRANT Scholarship Program.{{Citation needed|date=December 2007}} Some $9 billion was allocated to Texas public schools, colleges, and universities and combined with a new emphasis on accountability for both teachers and students.{{Citation needed|date=December 2007}} Public schools in Texas are funded primarily by local property taxes thus creating a heavy burden on the local community to pay for their own schools, thereby creating inequities between rich and poor school districts.


===Lieutenant governor===
Perry's lieutenant governor and governor campaigns focused on a tough stance on ]. In June 2002, he ]ed a ban on the ] of ] inmates. He has also supported ]s for crime programs.
In 1998, Perry ran for ]. During this election, Perry had a notable falling out with his previous top political strategist Karl Rove, which began the much-reported rivalry between the ] and Perry camps.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/59687.html|work=Politico|title=If Rick Perry gets in, will Karl Rove be out?|access-date=September 10, 2010}}</ref> Perry polled 1,858,837 votes (50.04 percent) to the 1,790,106 (48.19 percent) cast for Democrat ]. Perry became the state's ], taking office on January 19, 1999.


==Governor of Texas==
Another element of Perry's platform has been ]; as lieutenant governor he had tried and failed to place a limit on ] and allowing plaintiffs to distribute awards among several liable sources. In 2003, Perry sponsored a controversial state constitutional amendment to cap ] rewards;{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}} this proposal was narrowly approved by voters.
{{main|Governorship of Rick Perry}}
].]]


Perry assumed the office of governor on December 21, 2000, following the resignation of ]—who was preparing to become ].<ref name=bio/> He won the office in his own right in the ], where he received 58% of votes to Laredo oilman and businessman ]'s 40%.<ref name="1994 General Election" /> He was re-elected in the ] against three major opponents, polling 39% of votes against runner-up former U.S. Congressman ] of Houston with 30%. Former Republican Comptroller, ], running as an independent, garnered 18% of the vote and comic/author/musician, ], also running as an independent, garnered over 12%. In the ], Perry became the first Texas governor to be elected to three four-year terms, polling 55% of votes to former Houston Mayor ]'s 42%.
This legislation not only caused a decrease in malpractice insurance rates, but caused a significant uptick in the number of doctors seeking to practice in the state.<ref name="More Doctors in Texas After Malpractice Caps"></ref>


In the 2001 legislative session, Perry set a record for his use of the ], rejecting 82 acts, more than any other governor in any single legislative session in the history of the state since ].<ref name="Vetoes">{{cite web |url=http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/1_4_2.html |title=The Executive Branch: Budgetary Powers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223083855/http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/1_4_2.html |archive-date=February 23, 2014 |work=Texas Politics |publisher=] |access-date=June 20, 2011 }}</ref><ref name="Vetoes 2"> {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228182445/http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/1_5_2.html |date=February 28, 2014 }}, ''Texas Politics'', ], retrieved June 20, 2011</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Vetoes – Then and Now|url=http://www.texastribune.org/texas-legislature/82nd-legislative-session/on-the-records-vetoes--then-and-now/|date=June 17, 2011|first=Becca|last=Aaronson|work=]|location=Austin|access-date=June 20, 2011}}</ref>
Recently, Rick Perry has drawn attention for his criticism of the ]'s handling of the ], and for turning down approximately $555 million in ] for ]. Perry was lauded by the Texas Association of Business<ref name="TAB Applauds Governor Perry’s Decision to Kill Job Tax"></ref> for this decision and his justification—that the funds and the mandatory changes to state law would have placed an enduring tax burden on employers. In September 2009, Perry declared that Texas was recession-proof: "As a matter of fact...someone had put a report out that the first state that's coming out of the recession is going to be the state of Texas...I said, 'We're in one?'"<ref name=polwire> Political Wire, September 19, 2009</ref>


Perry is one of five governors of Texas to have served three terms, the others being ], ], ] and later ]. He is the longest-serving governor in Texas history. He had served for 14 years by the time he left office, making him the second longest-serving U.S. governor at the time, behind ] of Iowa.
Paul Burka, senior executive editor of '']'', criticized his remarks, saying "You cannot be callous and cavalier when people are losing their jobs and their homes."<ref name=burka> Texas Monthly, September 18, 2009</ref>


===Fiscal issues=== === Fiscal policies ===
In his presidential campaign, Perry highlighted the economic success Texas achieved under his governorship. The efficacy of Perry's economic policies has been questioned by some sources.<ref>{{cite news |last=Luhby |first=Tami |url=https://money.cnn.com/2011/08/12/news/economy/perry_texas_jobs/ |title=Rick Perry and his Texas jobs boom: The whole story |publisher=] |date=August 12, 2011 |access-date=August 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304259304576375480710070472 |title=The Lone Star Jobs Surge |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=June 10, 2011 |access-date=August 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Plumer |first=Brad |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/breaking-down-rick-perrys-texas-miracle/2011/08/15/gIQAzRHFHJ_blog.html |title=Breaking down Rick Perry's 'Texas miracle' – Ezra Klein |newspaper=]|date=July 28, 2011 |access-date=August 18, 2011}}</ref>
Perry, a proclaimed proponent of ], has often campaigned on ] and job growth. Perry resisted creating a Texas state ] and ] increases, protected the state's "Rainy Day fund", ] the state budget as required by state law, and was reelected on a platform to reduce ]es that exploded with the ] of property values in the late 1990s and the 21st century. However, shortly after taking office, he backed down from the reduction of residential property taxes.


A proclaimed proponent of fiscal conservatism, Perry often campaigned on job growth and tax issues, such as his opposition to creating a state ]. In 2002, Perry refused to promise not to raise taxes as governor, and in the following years did propose or approve various tax and debt increases.<ref name="perrytaxes">{{cite news |last=Gleckman |first=Howard |date=August 16, 2011 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/beltway/2011/08/16/rick-perrys-changing-take-on-raising-taxes |title=Rick Perry's Changing Take On Raising Taxes |work=] |access-date=September 13, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/united-states/2008/01/03/the-texas-pole-tax |title=The Texas pole tax |newspaper=] |date=January 3, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="auto"/><ref>, accountingweb.com, August 16, 2006; retrieved August 18, 2011.</ref> In 2009, Perry signed ]'s pledge to "oppose and veto any and all efforts to increase taxes".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.atr.org/rick-perry-signs-taxpayer-protection-pledge-american-people|title=Rick Perry Signs Taxpayer Protection Pledge to the American People|newspaper=Americans for Tax Reforms|access-date=January 23, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/aug/12/chris-christie-signs-grover-norquists-no-tax-pledg/|last=Sherfinski|first=David|title=Chris Christie signs Grover Norquist's no-tax pledge|newspaper=The Washington Times|language=en-US|access-date=January 23, 2017}}</ref>
In early 2006 Perry angered some fiscal conservatives in his own party by supporting an increase in the state ] alongside a property tax reform bill. Many organizations within the Republican Party itself condemned Perry's tax bill, HB-3, and likened it to a "back door" state income tax.<ref></ref> Perry claimed in a statewide advertising campaign that the bill would save the average taxpayer $2,000 in property taxes. Critics contended that Perry inflated these numbers. The actual tax savings, they said, would average only $150 per family.<ref></ref>


Texas began borrowing money in 2003 to pay for roads and was projected to owe $17.3 billion by the end of 2012, increasing total state debt from $13.4 billion in 2001 to $37.8 billion in 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2011/08/analyzing-rick-perrys-record-texas-transportation-needs-left-behind/ |title=Analyzing Rick Perry's record: Texas transportation needs left behind &#124; Texas on the Potomac|publisher=Blog.chron.com |date=August 20, 2011 |access-date=March 12, 2012}}</ref> The state's public finance authority sold $2 billion in bonds for unemployment benefits, and it was authorized to sell $1.5 billion more if necessary. Texas federal borrowing topped $1.6 billion in October 2010, before the bond sales.<ref>{{cite news|last=Schnurman|first=Mitchell|url=http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/07/15/3225103/texas-debt-practices-contradict.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310065746/http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/07/15/3225103/texas-debt-practices-contradict.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 10, 2012|title=Texas' debt practices contradict Perry's rhetoric|newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|access-date=March 12, 2012}}</ref>
In 2003, Perry signed legislation that created the ] to enhance the development of the ] a top priority. In 2004, Perry authorized the Enterprise Fund to make a $20 million grant to ] in return for a promise "to create 7,500 new jobs in the state by 2010." The grant is one of the largest made from the fund in terms of the size of the grant and the number of jobs promised. In the fall of 2007, while slashing jobs and with its stock price plummeting, Countrywide assured Perry's office that the company "believed" it would meet its 2010 commitment<ref>Austin American-Statesman, November 9, 2007, page D1</ref> only to be acquired in a fire sale two months later by ].


In 2003, Perry signed legislation that created the ], which has since given $435 million in grants to businesses. ''The New York Times'' reported that many of the companies receiving grants, or their chief executives, have made contributions to Perry's campaigns or to the Republican Governors Association.<ref name="Confessore">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/21/us/politics/21donate.html |title=Perry Mines Texas System to Raise Cash |first1=Nicholas |last1=Confessore |first2=Michael |last2=Luo |newspaper=] |date=August 20, 2011 |access-date=November 3, 2019 }}</ref> (Perry became chairman of the group in 2008 and again in 2011.<ref name="rga.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.rga.org/homepage/rga-announces-new-leadership/ |title=RGA Announces New Leadership |publisher=Republican Governors Association |date=November 18, 2010 |access-date=March 26, 2011}}</ref>) Perry was criticized for supporting corporate tax breaks and other incentives, while the state government was experiencing budget deficits.<ref>{{cite news|last=Luhby|first=Tami|url=https://money.cnn.com/2011/01/19/news/economy/texas_budget_deficit/index.htm|title=Even budget deficits are bigger in Texas|publisher=Money.cnn.com|date=January 19, 2011|access-date=February 22, 2014}}</ref><ref>, nytimes.com, December 3, 2012.</ref>
His sales tax cuts have attracted new retail businesses to Texas,{{Citation needed|date=January 2009}} but in recent years his tax cuts have come under scrutiny for having sapped strength from some government programs. In 2004, Texas ranked 49 in percentage of residents having completed high school<ref></ref> and number 42 in physical exercise.<ref></ref>


===Healthcare===
Perry has faced considerable resistance in balancing fiscal conservatism, education equity, and the politics of school finance. As lieutenant governor, he initially sponsored a controversial ]s bill as an alternative to the "Robin Hood" school finance proposal. In 2004, Perry attacked the same "Robin Hood" plan as detrimental to the educational system. He attempted to get the legislature to abolish the system and replace it with one that he believed would encourage greater equity, cost less, hold down property and sales taxes, and foster job growth. Perry objected to the legalization of video lottery terminals at racetracks and on ]s as well as increases in ]es.
] in 2010]]


As governor, Perry was an opponent of federal health-care reform proposals and of the ], describing the latter as "socialism on American soil".<ref name="nyt-healthcare">{{cite news|work=]|title=G.O.P. Candidates' Stances on Health Care Mask Their Records as Governors|first=Kevin|last=Sack|date=September 3, 2011 |access-date=September 13, 2016|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/04/us/politics/04governors.html}}</ref> His focus in Texas was on ], signing a bill in 2003 that restricted non-economic damages in ] judgments.<ref>{{cite news|last=Blumenthal|first=Ralph|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/15/us/malpractice-suits-capped-at-750000-in-texas-vote.html|title=Malpractice Suits Capped at $750,000 in Texas Vote|work=]|date=September 15, 2003 |access-date=September 13, 2016}}</ref> Perry touted this approach in his presidential campaign, although independent analysts have concluded that it has failed to increase the supply of physicians or limit health-care costs in Texas.<ref name="nyt-healthcare"/><ref name="cost-curve">{{cite journal|author1=Paik, Myungho|author2=Black, Bernard S.|author3=Hyman, David A.|author4=Silver, Charles M.|title=Will Tort Reform Bend the Cost Curve? Evidence from Texas|journal=Journal of Empirical Legal Studies|volume=9|pages=173–216|year=2012|issue=2 |doi=10.1111/j.1740-1461.2012.01251.x |ssrn=1635882|s2cid=153740834 |orig-date=July 16, 2010|url=https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1635882}}</ref>
In 2003, Perry called three consecutive special legislative sessions to procure a ] more favorable to Republicans. The plan finally adopted, supported by then U.S. House Majority Leader ] of ], brought about a five-seat Republican gain in the delegation. In 2006, however, the five-seat edge was reduced to three seats.


During Perry's governorship, Texas rose from second to first among states with the highest proportion of uninsured residents at 26%, and had the lowest level of access to ] Perry and the state legislature cut ] spending.<ref name="nyt-healthcare"/><ref name="la-times-healthcare">{{cite news|work=]|title=Texas healthcare system withering under Gov. Perry|first=Noam|last=Levey|date=September 8, 2011|access-date=September 13, 2016|url=https://www.latimes.com/health/la-xpm-2011-sep-08-la-na-perry-healthcare-20110908-story.html}}</ref> The '']'' wrote that under Perry, "working Texans increasingly have been priced out of private healthcare while the state's safety net has withered."<ref name="la-times-healthcare"/>
A special session of the legislature was convened on June 21, 2005, to address education issues, but resistance developed from House ] ], a Republican from ]. Perry's proposal was attacked by members from property-poor districts and was rejected. During the session, Perry became involved in a heated debate with Comptroller ] about the merits of his school finance proposal. Strayhorn initially planned to oppose Perry in the 2006 Republican primary but instead ran as an independent in the general election.<ref name="2006 race">http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050618/ap_on_re_us/texas_governor_s_race</ref> Another special session was convened on July 21, 2005 after Perry vetoed all funding for public schools for the 2007-2008 biennium. He vowed not to "approve an education budget that shortchanges teacher salary increases, textbooks, education technology, and education reforms. And I cannot let $2 billion sit in some bank account when it can go directly to the classroom."


Perry's office said that Texas represents a model private-sector approach to healthcare. His spokeswoman said, "Texas does provide an adequate safety net to those truly in need... and many individuals simply choose not to purchase healthcare coverage."<ref name="la-times-healthcare"/>
Perry's campaign office in 2006 declared that without the special session, some "$2 billion that had been intended for teacher pay raises, education reforms, and other school priorities would have gone unused because House Bill 2 didn’t pass."<ref></ref> The bill failed to pass in the first session, and was refiled in a second session, in which the bill was defeated 62-79, after 50 amendments were added without discussion or debate.<ref name="CSHB2 Record Vote">http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/hjrnl/792/html/79c2day03final.htm</ref>


Perry is anti-abortion and has signed bills with rules or restrictions for ] procedures and funding for them.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}
Late in 2005, as approval of his governorship sunk to new lows in public opinion polls, Perry requested assistance from his former lieutenant-governor rival, John Sharp, who is a former Texas State Comptroller and a member of the ], ] and Texas House of Representatives, to head an education task force charged with preparing a bipartisan education plan. The special session convened on April 17, 2006. Sharp accepted Perry's offer and removed himself as a potential candidate for governor in 2006. The task force issued its final plan several months later, and the legislature adopted it.<ref></ref> For his successful efforts, Sharp was later nominated by the '']'' for the "Texan of the Year" award.<ref></ref>


In December 2011, Perry said he had undergone a "transformation" and now opposed abortions, even in cases of rape and incest. The next day he clarified that he would allow an exception for abortions that would save a mother's life.<ref>Saenz, Arlette. . ABC News, December 28, 2011.</ref><ref>Philpott, Ben. , KUTNews.org, December 27, 2011.</ref>
===Social conservatism===
Perry is ] and opposes government funding for elective abortions. In 2005, Perry, a ], signed an ] bill that limited ]s and required girls under the age of eighteen who procure abortions to notify their parents. Perry signed the bill in the gymnasium of Calvary Christian Academy in ], an ] school.


In February 2007, Perry issued an ] mandating that Texas girls receive the ], which protects against some strains of the ], a contributing factor to some forms of ].<ref name=Carney>Carney, Timothy (June 21, 2011) , '']''</ref> Following the move, news outlets reported various apparent financial connections between Perry and the vaccine's manufacturer, ].<ref name=Carney/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/02/22/22perry.html |title=Perry's staff discussed vaccine on day Merck donated to campaign |last=Peterson |first=Liz Austin |agency=Associated Press |work=] |date=February 22, 2007 |access-date=August 7, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716133807/http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/02/22/22perry.html |archive-date=July 16, 2011 }}</ref> Merck's ] has contributed $28,500 since 2001 to Perry's campaigns.<ref>Mason, Melanie. . ''Los Angeles Times'', September 13, 2011.</ref> Perry later reversed his position, calling the vaccine mandate a "mistake".<ref name=RickPerryReversal>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/rick-perry-reverses-himself-calls-hpv-vaccine-mandate-a-mistake/2011/08/16/gIQAM2azJJ_story.html |title=Rick Perry reverses himself, calls HPV vaccine mandate a 'mistake' |newspaper=] |date=September 13, 2011 |access-date=November 16, 2021}}</ref> In May 2007, the Texas Legislature passed a bill undoing the order; Perry did not veto the bill, saying the veto would have been overruled, but blamed lawmakers who supported the bill for the deaths of future Texan cervical cancer victims.<ref>{{cite news|first=Corrie |last=MacLaggan |url=http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/05/09/9hpv.html |title=Perry lets HPV bill go into law |work=] |date=May 9, 2007 |access-date=August 16, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716133814/http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/05/09/9hpv.html |archive-date=July 16, 2011 }}</ref>
Perry is also known for his socially conservative views on ]. He supports the definition of marriage as between "one man and one woman". He condemned the ] decision in '']'' striking down ]s and called Texas' last such law "appropriate."<ref name="Sodomy laws statement"></ref>


On July 1, 2011, Perry both had adult ] surgery in Houston and started "laying the groundwork" for the commercialization of the adult stem cell industry in Texas.<ref name=TT-TXStemCellIndustry>{{cite news |first=Emily |last=Ramshaw |url=http://www.texastribune.org/texas-people/rick-perry/perry-allies-lay-groundwork-tx-stem-cell-industry/ |title=Perry, Allies Lay Groundwork for TX Stem Cell Industry |work=] |date=August 4, 2011 |access-date=March 6, 2012}}</ref><ref name=NYT-PerryHasProcedure>{{cite news |first=Sarah |last=Maslin Nir |url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/04/rick-perry-has-stem-cell-procedure-then-works-to-bring-it-to-texas/ |title=Rick Perry Has Stem Cell Procedure, Then Works to Bring it to Texas |work=] |date=August 4, 2011 |access-date=March 6, 2012}}</ref>
===Perry's Christian faith===
In what was described as a "God and country" sermon at the Cornerstone church in San Antonio, attended by Perry and other mostly Republican candidates, the Rev. ] stated, "If you live your life and don't confess your sins to God Almighty through the authority of Christ and His blood, I'm going to say this very plainly, you're going straight to hell with a nonstop ticket." Perry was asked if he agreed with those comments and said, "It is my faith, and I'm a believer of that."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/110606dnTSWperry.351c57c.html |title=Perry believes non-Christians doomed |publisher=Dallas Morning News |date=2006-11-06 }}</ref> Perry went on to say that there was nothing in the sermon that he took exception with. ], the ] independent candidate for governor said, "He doesn't think very differently from the ], does he?" Carole Keeton Strayhorn disagreed with Perry's comments, and Democrat Chris Bell said that one who is in public office should "respect people of all faiths and denominations." Fundamentalist conservatives then responded, arguing that Perry had a right to his faith, and that he was not disrespecting Americans of other religious convictions.<ref></ref> While on tour in August 2009 interview with Israel's Jerusalem Post newspaper Perry affirmed his support for Israel from his religious background, "I'm a big believer that this country was given to the people of Israel a long time ago, by God, and that's ordained."<ref></ref>


===HPV vaccine=== ===Religion===
] in Maryland]]
Murder of Todd Willingham in 2004


Perry grew up in the ]. He and his family were members of Tarrytown United Methodist Church in Austin until 2010, when they began attending Lake Hills Church,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lhc.org|title=Lake Hills Church|work=lhc.org|access-date=September 13, 2015}}</ref> a non-denominational evangelical ] in western Travis County. Perry told the ''Austin American-Statesman'' that he began attending Lake Hills because it was close to the rental home where he and his wife lived while the Governor's Mansion was being renovated.<ref name=Statesman>{{cite news|last=Joshunda Sanders|first=Jason Embry|title=Candidates attending more than one church|url=https://www.statesman.com/article/20120831/NEWS/308318267 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101106024905/http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/governors_race/candidates-mirror-population-in-attending-more-than-one-1009306.html|url-status=live |archive-date=November 6, 2010|newspaper=]|access-date=August 20, 2011}}</ref>
On February 2, 2007, Perry issued an ] mandating that Texas girls be vaccinated with ], a newly approved drug manufactured by ] that protects against some strains of the ] which causes ]. The order included an opt-out provision for parents which political opponents failed to mention in the course of relentless attacks. The move made national headlines.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9264314
|title=Monkey and other business |publisher='']'' |date=2007-05-31 |accessdate=2007-07-30}}</ref>


In 2006, Perry said he believed in the ] and that those who do not accept ] as their Savior will go to hell. A couple of days later, he clarified, "I don't know that there's any human being that has the ability to interpret what God and his final decision-making is going to be."<ref name="perryhagee">{{cite news|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/110606dnTSWperry.351c57c.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061119030904/http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/110606dnTSWperry.351c57c.html|archive-date=November 19, 2006|last=Hoppe|first=Christy|title=Perry believes non-Christians doomed|work=]|date=November 6, 2006|access-date=September 1, 2011}}</ref>
Perry's move has been criticized by some ] and ] due to concerns about the moral implications of the vaccine and safety concerns. On February 22, 2007, a group of families sued in an attempt to block Gov. Perry's executive order.<ref></ref> Apparent financial connections between Merck and Rick Perry have been reported by news outlets, such as a $6,000 campaign contribution, as well as Merck's hiring of former Perry Chief of Staff Mike Toomey to handle its Texas lobbying work.<ref></ref>


In his 2008 book ''On My Honor'', Perry expressed his views on the ] and the ] of the U.S. Constitution. "Let's be clear: I don't believe government, which taxes people regardless of their faith, should espouse a specific faith. I also don't think we should allow a small minority of ]s to sanitize our civil dialogue of religious references."<ref>{{cite book|last=Perry|first=Rick|title=On My Honor|year=2008|publisher=Stroud & Hall Publishers|location=Macon, GA|isbn=978-0-9796462-2-5|page=|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780979646225/page/88}}</ref>
Adding to the criticism of Perry's order is what is viewed by some as a high price of the vaccine which is approximately ]360 in Texas.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/02/AR2007020201528.html
|title=Texas Gov. Orders Anti-Cancer Vaccine |last=PETERSON |first=LIZ AUSTIN |publisher=] |date=2007-02-02 |accessdate=2007-02-02}}</ref> Gardasil is a patent-restricted vaccine and Merck is the sole producer.


In June 2011, Perry proclaimed August 6 as a Day of Prayer and ], inviting other governors to join him in a prayer meeting hosted by the ] in Houston.<ref>{{cite web|last=Perry|first=Rick|url=http://governor.state.tx.us/news/proclamation/16247|title=Gov. Perry Declares August 6th a Day of Prayer|publisher=Office of the Governor|date=June 6, 2011|access-date=June 29, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614162736/http://governor.state.tx.us/news/proclamation/16247/|archive-date=June 14, 2011}}</ref><ref>Bacon, Perry, Jr.; Henderson, Nia-Malika (August 5, 2011). . '']''.</ref> The event was criticized as going beyond prayer and fasting to include launching Perry's presidential campaign.<ref>{{Cite news | last = Fikac| first = Peggy| title = Email on voting prompts questions about Perry prayer event| newspaper = ]| date = August 19, 2011| url = http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Email-on-voting-prompts-questions-about-Perry-2132729.php| access-date = August 20, 2011}}</ref>
On May 9, 2007, Perry allowed a bill to go into law that would undo his executive order.<ref></ref>


Perry has called himself "a firm believer in ] as a matter of faith and intellect" and has expressed support for its teaching alongside ] in Texas schools but has also said that "educators and local school officials, not the governor, should determine science curriculum".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2010/sep/11/this-series-examines-important-issues-to-texans/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100916041148/http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2010/sep/11/this-series-examines-important-issues-to-texans/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 16, 2010 |title=2010 The Vote: K-12 Education |work=] |date=September 11, 2010 |access-date=August 18, 2011 }}</ref>
===Record use of vetoes===
Murder of Todd Willingham in 2004


===Education===
Perry set a record in the 2001 legislative session for the use of the ]: he rejected legislation a total of eighty-two times, more than any other governor in any single legislative session in the history of the state since ]. Perry's use of the veto drew criticism from some in the 2002 gubernatorial campaign, having used the veto only nine fewer times than preceding Governor George W. Bush had during three legislative sessions and twenty-two more than Ann Richards cast in two sessions.<ref name="Vetoes"></ref> In the two legislative sessions since the 2001 session, Perry was more conservative in his use of the veto, employing it only fifty-one times.<ref name="Vetoes 2"></ref> However, as of 2005, he has used the veto more than any other Texas governor in a continuous administration; the only governor who exceeded Perry's total was Bill Clements, who faced a heavily Democratic legislature. Clements vetoed legislation 184 times in eight years: Perry, 132 times in five years.
In 2005, Perry said he would not "approve an education budget that shortchanges teacher salary increases, textbooks, education technology, and education reforms. And I cannot let $2 billion sit in some bank account when it can go directly to the classroom".<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/3589|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820055259/http://governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/3589/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 20, 2010|title=Gov. Perry Says Legislators Must Come Back, Get School Funding Right|publisher=Office of the Governor |access-date=August 18, 2011}}</ref>


Following a second rejection of Perry's bill, Perry asked ] to head a task force charged with preparing a bipartisan education plan, which was subsequently adopted.<ref name="CSHB2 Record Vote">{{cite web|url=http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/hjrnl/792/html/79c2day03final.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051130095557/http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/hjrnl/792/html/79c2day03final.htm|archive-date=November 30, 2005|title=Proceedings: Third Day – Tuesday, July 26, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.governor.state.tx.us/priorities/tax_reform/TTRC_report/files/TTRC_report.pdf|title=Gov. Perry's Principles For A Stronger Texas|publisher=Office of the Governor|access-date=August 7, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820122527/http://governor.state.tx.us/priorities/tax_reform/TTRC_report/files/TTRC_report.pdf|archive-date=August 20, 2011}}</ref>
===Supreme Court Justice Steve Smith===


In 2001, Perry expressed his pride in the enactment of the statute extending in-state tuition to ] who meet Texas' residency requirements. It also required the undocumented students to pledge to apply for permanent residency or citizenship if this became a possibility for them.<ref>{{cite web|last=Perry|first=Rick|title=Gov. Rick Perry's Remarks to the Border Summit|publisher=Office of the Governor|date=August 22, 2001|url=http://governor.state.tx.us/news/speech/10688|access-date=August 14, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819140626/http://governor.state.tx.us/news/speech/10688/|archive-date=August 19, 2011}}</ref> In September 2014, Gov. Perry stated during a debate his continuous support for the program.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Batheja|first1=Aman|title=Perry backs in-state tuition law|url=http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/politics/2014/09/21/rick-perry-texas-tribune-festival-tuition/16013709|access-date=September 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006175838/http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/politics/2014/09/21/rick-perry-texas-tribune-festival-tuition/16013709/|archive-date=October 6, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>


===LGBT rights===
Murder of Todd Willingham in 2004
] in National Harbor, Maryland]]


Perry is a firm opponent of LGBT rights and as both Governor of Texas and Secretary of Energy became controversial for his homophobic comments and anti-LGBT positions.
Perry has made numerous appointments to the Texas courts, the ], as ], and to other boards and commissions during his tenure as governor. Two of the three Railroad Commissioners, ] and ], began their service as Perry appointees. The third, ], started in 1999 under appointment from George W. Bush. He has named six short-term appointments as secretary of state, including two of his former legislative colleagues, ] and ].


In 2002, Perry described the Texas same-sex ] as "appropriate".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/2002_3605756/perry-calls-sodomy-law-appropriate.html|title=Perry calls sodomy law 'appropriate{{'-}}|work=]|agency=Associated Press|date=December 4, 2002|access-date=August 19, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202221217/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/2002_3605756/perry-calls-sodomy-law-appropriate.html|archive-date=February 2, 2012}}</ref> The following year, the ] struck down the statute in '']'', determining that it violated the ] to the Constitution.
One of Perry's first selections was the appointment of ] to succeed ] on the Texas Supreme Court. Rodriguez, who called himself a ], was quickly unseated in the 2002 Republican primary by conservative ], the attorney in the '']'' suit in 1996, which successfully challenged ] at the ] Law School. Hopwood, however, was overturned in a 2003 decision stemming from the ] at ]. Steven Smith was elected by a comfortable margin over Democratic opposition in the 2002 general election.


In his 2010 book, Perry referenced the ''Lawrence'' decision, writing "Texans have a different view of the world than do the nine oligarchs in robes."<ref name="Saenz">Arlette Saenz, , ABC News, December 29, 2011.</ref> In 2011, Perry admitted that he did not know about the ''Lawrence'' decision; when told that the Supreme Court case had struck down Texas's anti-sodomy law, Perry said: "I'm not taking the ] I don't know what a lot of legal cases My position on traditional marriage is clear I don't need a federal law case to explain it to me."<ref name="Saenz"/>
Perry objected to Smith's tenure on the court and refused to meet with the new justice when Smith attempted to mend fences with the governor. Perry encouraged Judge ] to challenge Smith in the 2004 Republican primary. Perry raised funds for Green,{{Citation needed|date=September 2008}} who defeated Smith in the primary and was then elected without opposition in the general election. Smith attempted a comeback in the 2006 Republican primary by challenging Justice ], another Perry appointee who was considered a conservative on the court. Smith polled 49.5 percent of the primary vote, but Willett narrowly prevailed.


Perry supported ], a ballot proposition that ] as "only a union between a man and a woman" and prohibiting the state from creating or recognizing "any legal status identical or similar to marriage" (such as ]s).<ref>{{Cite news|title=Same-sex marriage ban wins OK|url=http://www.chron.com/default/article/Same-sex-marriage-ban-wins-OK-1933429.php|date=November 8, 2005|first=Janet|last=Elliott|work=]|access-date=August 29, 2011}}</ref>
===Trans-Texas Corridor===


In 2011, after ], Perry said it was their right to do so under the principle of ] in the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://caucuses.desmoinesregister.com/2011/07/23/perry-defends-gay-marriage-as-a-states-choice-santorum-takes-a-swipe/|title=Perry defends gay marriage as states' choice; Santorum takes a swipe|first=Jennifer|last=Jacobs|work=]|date=July 23, 2011|access-date=August 19, 2011|archive-date=July 23, 2011|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20110723170232/http://caucuses.desmoinesregister.com/2011/07/23/perry-defends-gay-marriage-as-a-states-choice-santorum-takes-a-swipe/|url-status=dead}}</ref> A spokesman later reiterated Perry's support for a ], saying that position was not inconsistent, since an amendment would require ratification by three-fourths of the states.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-xpm-2011-jul-28-la-pn-perry-gay-marriage-20110728-story.html|title=Rick Perry contorts over same-sex marriage|first=Mark Z.|last=Barabak|work=]|date=July 28, 2011|access-date=August 19, 2011}}</ref>
Murder of Todd Willingham in 2004


After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in '']'' in 2015 that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples by the Constitution, Perry condemned the decision, saying: "I'm a firm believer in traditional marriage, and I also believe the 10th Amendment leaves it to each state to decide this issue."<ref>Jennifer Rubin, , ''The Washington Post'', June 26, 2015.</ref>
As a way to meet the transportation needs of a population that grows by roughly 1,000 Texans per day<ref name="U.S. Census Bureau-Texas Quick Facts"></ref> , Perry proposed the ], a $145+ billion-dollar project that would encompass multi-lane highways, rail and utilities, speeding the movement of people, products and power across the state. Instead of raising taxes to pay for the project, the project was proposed to be partially financed, partially built and wholly operated by private contractors who, in exchange for a multi-billion dollar investment, would receive all toll proceeds, notably ], a ]-owned company, and its minority partner, ]-based ], one of Texas' largest road construction companies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.archive.org/web/20071113223501/http://ttc.keeptexasmoving.com/faqs/?faq_type=3 |title=Trans-Texas Corridor: FAQs |publisher=] |year=2004 |accessdate=2008-11-13}}</ref> Some of the more controversial aspects of the project include tolls, private operation of toll collections (at rates set by local municipalities), and extensive use of eminent domain (or the option for landowners to maintain a lucrative equity stake in the project) to acquire property.


In his first book, ''On My Honor'', published in 2008, Perry compared ] to ], writing that he is "no expert on the 'nature versus nurture' debate" but gays should simply choose abstinence.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://swampland.time.com/2011/08/24/perry-compared-homosexuality-to-alcoholism-in-2008-book/|title=Perry Compared Homosexuality to Alcoholism in 2008 Book|date=August 24, 2011|first=Mark|last=Benjamin|magazine=Time|access-date=October 21, 2011}}</ref> Perry's comments created immense controversy and drew ire from several LGBT rights groups.
Perry has been criticized for opposing the public release of the actual terms of the 50-year deal with Cintra to the public for fear they would chill the possibility of the company's investment; Perry's former liaison to the legislature and expert in public-private partnership, former State Senator Dan Shelly, returned to his consulting/lobbying work with Cintra after securing the TTC deal while on the state payroll. All of Perry's gubernatorial opponents opposed the
corridor project. The 2006 state party platforms of both the Democratic and Republicans parties also opposed the current corridor legislation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.texasgop.org/site/DocServer/Platform_Updated.pdf?docID=2001 |title=2006 STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY PLATFORM |publisher=Texas Republican Party |format=] |year=2006 |accessdate=2008-06-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://txdems.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/Party%20Platforms/2006%20TDP%20platform.pdf |title=2006 Texas Democratic Party Platform |format=] |year=2006 |accessdate=2008-06-26}}</ref> In August, 2008, Perry co-signed a indicating his interest in exploring a variety of approaches to meeting the state's transportation infrastructure needs.


During the 2012 presidential campaign, he criticized the repeal of the "]" policy for the U.S. military.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rick Perry's Anti-Gay Iowa Ad Divides His Top Staff|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/08/rick-perry-anti-gay-iowa-ad-divides-top-staff_n_1136587.html|date=December 8, 2011|first=Sam|last=Stein|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=February 15, 2012}}</ref> In a 2011 campaign ad, he stated: "there's something wrong in this country when gays can serve openly in the military" and later defended the ad, saying he was "very comfortable" with it.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/rick-perry-rips-obama-war-religion-new-ad-criticizing-president-don-don-article-1.988699|title=Rick Perry rips Obama's 'war on religion' in new ad criticizing President on 'Don't Ask Don't Tell'|last=Shahid|first=Aliyah|date=December 8, 2011|work=]|access-date=February 14, 2023}}</ref> Perry said using foreign aid as a policy tool against foreign countries that violate the human rights of homosexuals was "not in America's interests" and was part of a "war on traditional American values".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/12/rick-perry-says-human-rights-for-gays-not-in-americas-interests|title=Rick Perry Says Human Rights for Gays 'Not in America's Interests'|publisher=ABC News|date=December 6, 2011|access-date=February 22, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301081125/https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/12/rick-perry-says-human-rights-for-gays-not-in-americas-interests/|archive-date=March 1, 2014}}</ref>
In 2001, Perry appointed ] of ], an old friend, former legislative colleague and innovator, to the Texas Transportation Commission. Williamson became the commission chairman in 2004 and worked for TTC until his sudden death of a heart attack on December 30, 2007.


Perry, an ], called on the ] in 2013 to continue their ban on homosexuality.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/03/us/rick-perry-opposes-opening-boy-scouts-to-gays.html |title=Perry Fights Letting Gays in Boy Scouts |newspaper=The New York Times |date=February 2, 2013 |access-date=March 8, 2024}}</ref>
In 2007 Governor Perry endorsed Rudy Giuliani for President. Some found this to be an odd choice considering the two differed some issues, but Perry stated he chose Giuliani for his .

===Crime===
Perry's campaigns for lieutenant governor and governor focused on a tough stance on crime. He has supported ]s for crime programs.<ref name=NGA10>{{cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Notebook/Note_01-NGA10.htm|title=Public Notes on 01-NGA10|publisher=]|date=September 14, 2001|access-date=August 18, 2011}}</ref>

Jeff L. Blackburn, chief counsel of the ], said of Perry that "He has done more good than any other governor we've ever had unless, of course, it involves the death penalty. On the ], Rick Perry has a profound mental block."<ref name=NYTCrimeStance>Sontag, Deborah (October 30, 2011). . ''The New York Times''.</ref>

In 2007, Perry signed a law ending automatic arrest for ] possession.<ref>Yoder, Steve (November 7, 2011). Salon.</ref>


===Death penalty=== ===Death penalty===
{{Further|Capital punishment in Texas}}


Perry supports the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/69546/output/print|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071113100211/http://www.newsweek.com/id/69546/output/print|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 13, 2007|title=Injection of Reflection|last1=Thomas|first1=Evan|first2=Martha|last2=Brant|work=]|date=November 10, 2007|access-date=June 22, 2008}}</ref> In June 2001, he vetoed a ban on the ] of ] inmates.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/18/us/ban-on-execution-of-the-retarded-is-vetoed-in-texas.html|title=Ban on Execution of the Retarded is Vetoed in Texas|last=Bonner|first=Raymond|work=]|date=June 18, 2001|access-date=September 12, 2015}}</ref> In 2011, during a televised debate for presidential candidates, he said he had "never struggled" with the question of the possible innocence of any of the 234 inmates executed to date while he was governor.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Montopoli |first1=Brian |title=Rick Perry: I don't lose sleep over Texas executions |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rick-perry-i-dont-lose-sleep-over-texas-executions/ |access-date=May 31, 2018 |work=CBS News |date=September 7, 2011}}</ref>
Murder of Todd Willingham in 2004


Cases in which Perry has been criticized for his lack of intervention include those of ] and Mexican nationals ] and ].<ref>{{Cite news|title=From arson to politics: Why has Texas's governorderailed a death-penalty investigation?|newspaper=]|date=October 22, 2009|url=http://www.economist.com/node/14699746|access-date=August 13, 2011}}</ref><ref name="grann1">{{cite news|last=Grann|first=David|url=https://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/09/07/090907fa_fact_grann|title=Cameron Todd Willingham, Texas, and the death penalty|magazine=]|date=January 7, 2009|access-date=August 7, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Graczyk|first=Michael|url=http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/07/08/3209871/criticism-of-texas-execution-of.html|title=Criticism of Texas' execution of Mexican Humberto Leal Garcia doesn't bother Perry|work=]|date=July 8, 2011|access-date=August 7, 2011}}{{dead link|date=February 2017}}</ref>
Like the <ref>"http://static.texastribune.org/media/documents/UTTTFeb_2010_Poll2-Summary.pdf"</ref>of Texans, Rick Perry supports the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/69546/output/print |title=Injection of Reflection |last=Thomas |first=Evan |coauthors=Martha Brant |publisher=] |date=2007-11-10 |accessdate=2008-06-22}}</ref> Perry has been criticized by anti-death penalty groups including some human rights organizations worldwide. On June 2, 2009, Texas carried out the 200th execution since Perry assumed the office of governor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.star-telegram.com/news/columnists/bob_ray_sanders/story/1418658.html |title=Sanders: Texas does lots of things on a grand scale, including executing people |last=Sanders |first=Bob Ray |publisher=] |date=2009-06-06 |accessdate=2009-08-29}}</ref> Under Texas law, the Board of Pardon and Parole must make a recommendation to commute such a sentence, which the Governor is free to ignore, but the reverse is not true{{ndash}} if the Board does not make such a recommendation the Governor cannot then commute the sentence. The only power the Governor has is to issue one, 30-day reprieve.


Perry commuted the death sentence of ], who was convicted of murder despite evidence that he was only present at the scene of the crime. Foster was convicted under a Texas law that makes co-conspirators liable in certain cases of homicide. In this case, it tied Foster to the triggerman. Perry raised doubts about the law and urged the legislature to re-examine the issue. "I believe the right and just decision is to commute Foster's sentence from the death penalty to life imprisonment," Perry said.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/31/us/31execute.html |first=Ralph |last=Blumenthal |newspaper=The New York Times|title=Governor Commutes Sentence in Texas|date=August 31, 2007 |access-date=November 3, 2019 }}</ref>
However, the chairman of the board is appointed by the governor, and serves at his pleasure.<ref name="Texas Administrative Code 141%1">{{cite web|url=http://info.sos.state.tx.us/pls/pub/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=37&pt=5&ch=141&rl=1|title=Texas Administrative Code|accessdate=2008-06-10|publisher=State of Texas}}</ref> Also, all the members of the Parole Board have been appointed by the incumbent Governor of Texas.<ref name="Year of Appointment of Board Members">{{cite web|url=http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/bpp/brd_members/brd_members.html|title=Year of Appointment of Board Members|accessdate=2008-06-10|publisher=State of Texas}}</ref> The mission statement for the work of the board is laid down after consultation with the Governor and the procedures and policies of the Board are to a great extent decided by the chairperson the Governor has chosen; the chairman also decides which Board members are to serve when an individual case is decided.<ref name="Texas Administrative Code 141%1" /><ref name="Texas Administrative Code 141.2">{{cite web|url=http://info.sos.state.tx.us/pls/pub/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=37&pt=5&ch=141&rl=3|title=Texas Administrative Code|accessdate=2008-06-10|publisher=State of Texas}}</ref>


Perry also refused to grant a stay of execution in 2004 in the case of ], even though an investigation by the ] determined parts of the original investigation may not have looked at all of the evidence correctly. Perry said in 2009 that "Willingham was a monster. He was a guy who murdered his three children, who tried to beat his wife into an abortion so that he wouldn't have those kids. Person after person has stood up and testified to facts of this case that quite frankly you all aren't covering" and later replaced the chairman and other members of the Science Commission prior to a meeting on the case.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Thornton|first1=Paul|title=Cameron Todd Willingham's ghost won't stop haunting Rick Perry|url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-cameron-todd-willingham-rick-perry-execution-20140806-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=August 6, 2014|access-date=May 20, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cleveland.com/nation/2009/10/texas_gov_rick_perry_defends_2.html|title=Texas Gov. Rick Perry defends 2004 execution despite questions about evidence, calls convict 'a monster'|work=]}}</ref> The replacements were believed to potentially related to the ]<ref> ]</ref>
===Cameron Todd Willingham===
Murder of Todd Willingham in 2004


===Infrastructure===
Questions were raised in 2009 by a report from an investigator hired by the Texas Forensic Science Commission that an innocent person may have been executed in Texas while Perry was governor. The report concluded that a fire allegedly set by ] in 1991 to murder his three daughters could not have been arson. Willingham said that he was asleep in his house when the fire started and denied that he deliberately killed his children.<ref name="star-telegram.com"></ref> He was executed in Texas on February 17, 2004. Prior to his execution Dr. Gerald Hurst, an Austin scientist and fire investigator, reviewed the case and concluded there was "no evidence of arson, the same conclusion reached by other fire investigators. Hurst's report was sent to governor Rick Perry's office as well as Board of Pardons and Paroles along with Willingham's appeal for clemency.<ref></ref> Neither responded to Willingham's appeals. "The whole case was based on the purest form of junk science," Hurst later said. "There was no item of evidence that indicated arson."<ref name=Grann>{{cite web |url=http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/09/07/090907fa_fact_grann|title=Trial by Fire: Did Texas execute an innocent man?|first=David|last=Grann|authorlink =David Grann|publisher='']''|date=2009-09-07}}</ref>
In 2002, Perry proposed the ] (TTC), a $175 billion transportation network that would include a 4,000-mile network of highways, rail, and utility lines and would be funded by private investors. Plans for the project were dropped in 2009 in favor of more incremental road projects.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ruiz|first1=Rosanna|last2=Elliott|first2=Janet|last3=Ratcliffe|first3=R.G.|title=Trans-Texas Corridor plans dropped after public outcry|url=http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/cyfair-news/article/Trans-Texas-Corridor-plans-dropped-after-public-1745411.php|access-date=June 13, 2017|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|date=January 6, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Trans-texas Corridor|url=https://www.texastribune.org/tribpedia/trans-texas-corridor/about/|work=Texas Tribune|access-date=June 13, 2017}}</ref> Opposition to the project, also called the "]" garnered opposition from rural Texans,<ref>{{Cite web|last=SALLEE|first=RAD|date=2008-04-28|title=Rural opposition grows for Trans-Texas Corridor|url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/katy-news/article/Rural-opposition-grows-for-Trans-Texas-Corridor-1530216.php|access-date=2022-01-13|website=Chron|language=en-US}}</ref> labor and environmentalists, the project became a major issue in the ].


===Gun ownership===
The Texas Forensic Science Commission agreed to investigate in 2008 after defense attorneys claimed that Willingham was wrongfully convicted on the basis of flawed scientific evidence. Dr. Craig Beyler, a nationally recognized fire investigator in ], was commissioned by the state panel to conduct an independent review. He submitted a 55-page report, saying methods used in the investigation could not fully support a finding of arson.<ref name="star-telegram.com"/> The report, written by Dr. Beyler, found that "a finding of arson could not be sustained". Dr. Beyler said that key testimony from a fire marshal at Willingham's trial was "hardly consistent with a scientific mind-set and is more characteristic of mystics or psychics.” <ref name="stopexecutions.blogspot.com"> (August 2009)</ref>.
Perry has an A+ rating from the ].<ref>{{cite web |title=NRA-PVF Endorses Texas Governor Rick Perry for Re-election in November's General Election |url=https://www.nrapvf.org/articles/20100916/nra-pvf-endorses-texas-governor-rick-perry-for-re-election-in-november-s-general-election-1 |website=nrapvf.org |publisher=NRA-PVF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812194703/https://www.nrapvf.org/articles/20100916/nra-pvf-endorses-texas-governor-rick-perry-for-re-election-in-november-s-general-election-1 |archive-date=August 12, 2014 |language=en-us |date=September 16, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nraila.org/News/Read/InTheNews.aspx?ID=15316|title=Rick Perry's unwavering support for gun rights could boost his presidential prospects|publisher=nraila.org|access-date=August 14, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717021720/http://www.nraila.org/News/Read/InTheNews.aspx?ID=15316|archive-date=July 17, 2011}}</ref> He possesses a ] (CCL)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.statesman.com/news/local/wily-coyote-no-match-for-governors-gun-634362.html|title='Wily' coyote no match for governor's gun|work=]|access-date=August 14, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100501185423/http://www.statesman.com/news/local/wily-coyote-no-match-for-governors-gun-634362.html|archive-date=May 1, 2010}}</ref> and has signed a number of bills that increased CCL access.<ref name="auto2"/>


===Mexico border===
But Perry later expressed skepticism of findings by fire experts. He stated that regardless of findings by arson experts, court records showed evidence of Cameron Todd Willingham’s guilt in charges that he intentionally killed his daughters in the fire. Perry is quoted in the report as stating of Willingham, “I’m familiar with the latter-day supposed experts on the arson side of it” however court records provide “clear and compelling, overwhelming evidence that he was in fact the murderer of his children.” <ref></ref>
In 2005, Perry launched Operation Linebacker, which was intended to prevent terrorists from exploiting the Texas-Mexico border. There was no evidence that terrorists attempted to exploit the border.<ref name="texastribune" /><ref>{{cite web|first1=Lomi Kriel, Perla Trevizo, Andrew Rodriguez|last1=Calderón|accessdate=2022-04-26|title=Examining Nearly Two Decades of Taxpayer-Funded Border Operations|url=https://www.propublica.org/article/examining-nearly-two-decades-of-taxpayer-funded-border-operations?token=1wxXw6SndUGGcMdeS2o4ZFlS3r9lCzAj|website=ProPublica|date=April 18, 2022 }}</ref> Perry touted the border security efforts as he campaigned for re-election. During Perry's governorship, he launched additional operations and persuaded the Texas legislature to devote more taxpayers' resources to border security. According to a 2022 investigative report by the Texas Tribune, "The way the governors and their administrations have tracked success has fluctuated over the years, offering little clarity into whether the state is closer to securing the border today than it was nearly 20 years ago. Neither the governor's office nor the DPS, the main agency leading border security efforts, can provide a full breakdown of the state-led operations since 2005, their duration, their cost to taxpayers and their accomplishments."<ref name="texastribune">{{Cite web |date=2022-04-18 |title=Texas has spent billions of dollars on border security. But what taxpayers got in return is a mystery. |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2022/04/18/texas-border-security-spending/ |access-date=2022-04-25 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}}</ref>


During a large surge in ] through the U.S. southern border in the summer of 2014, Perry criticized U.S. President ], saying the surge was "a humanitarian crisis that he has the ability to stop".<ref>{{cite web | title=Texas Gov. Perry: Illegal Immigrant Surge a 'Humanitarian Crisis' Obama Can Stop | url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/texas-gov-perry-illegal-immigrant-surge-a-humanitarian-crisis-obama-can-stop/ | date=July 10, 2014 | publisher=] | access-date=April 9, 2017}}</ref> On July 21, 2014, Perry announced he would send in 1,000 ] troops to secure the border.<ref>{{cite news | last1=Fernandez | first1=Manny | last2=Shear | first2=Michael D. | title=Texas Governor Bolsters Border, and His Profile | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/22/us/perry-to-deploy-national-guard-troops-to-mexico-border.html | date=July 21, 2014 | newspaper=] | access-date=April 9, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last1=Root | first1=Jay | title=Perry Sending Guard Troops to the Border | url=https://www.texastribune.org/2014/07/21/perry-activate-1000-guard-troops/ | date=July 21, 2014 | work=] | access-date=April 9, 2017}}</ref> Although illegal immigration levels declined over 70% after Perry deployed the National Guard, ] rated his claim that the decline resulted from the surge as "mostly false".<ref>{{cite web | last1=Saacks | first1=Bradley | title=Rick Perry Says 74 Percent Drop in Border Apprehensions Shows Texas Surge Worked | url=http://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2015/jul/26/rick-perry/rick-perry-says-74-percent-drop-border-apprehensio/ | date=July 26, 2015 | publisher=] | access-date=April 9, 2017}}</ref>
Willingham's own wife, Stacy Kuykendall, has gone on record stating her firm belief that Willingham murdered her children.


In 2016, ''The Texas Tribune'' wrote that "Perry has long been a critic of building a wall or fence along the border."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2016/07/11/rick-perry-trumps-wall-listen-you-cant-do/|title=Rick Perry On Donald Trump's Border Wall: Never Going to Happen|last1=Tribune|first1=The Texas|last2=Atkinson|first2=Khorri|date=July 11, 2016|website=The Texas Tribune|language=en|access-date=January 19, 2019}}</ref> After Trump won the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, Perry fully embraced Trump's proposed border wall.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/trump-border-wall-rick-perry-227532 |date=August 30, 2016 |title=Perry backtracks, says Trump will have a border wall |last=Gass |first=Nick |website=] |access-date=January 19, 2019}}</ref>
On October 2009, Perry replaced three members of Texas Forensic Science Commission just two days before it was to hear from Dr. Beyler, the author of the latest of three reports to conclude that arson was not the likely cause of the 1991 fire. As a result, the hearing was postponed indefinitely, and critics of the governor accused him of trying to quash the Willingham probe.<ref>'']'', 1 October 2009, </ref> Perry said the commission’s inquiry will continue, saying that his decision to replace the three commission members was part of the normal appointments process.<ref name="star-telegram.com"/>


===Veto controversy and exoneration===
Ousted head of the forensics panel, Samuel Bassett, has stated he felt pressure from Perry's office and that they felt the Beyler report was a "waste of State money" and that the Willingham investigation should be a lower priority. He went on to say that they indicated they were not happy with the course of the Willingham investigation and hinted at reducing the commission's funding.<ref>'']'', 12 October 2009, </ref>
{{main|Rick Perry veto controversy}}


On August 15, 2014, Perry was ] by a Travis County ].<ref>{{cite news|first=Benjy|last=Sarlin|url=https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/rick-perry-indicted-abuse-power-grand-jury|title=Rick Perry indicted for abuse of power by grand jury|publisher=MSNBC|date=August 12, 2014|access-date=August 17, 2014}}</ref> The first charge of the ] was abuse of official capacity, which has since been ruled unconstitutional,<ref name="MalewitzTXTrib02242016"/> for threatening to veto $7.5 million in funding for the Public Integrity Unit, a state public corruption prosecutors department. The second charge, which has also since been ruled unconstitutional, was coercion of a public servant, for seeking the resignation of Travis County District Attorney ], a Democrat, after she was convicted of ] and incarcerated.<ref name="MalewitzTXTrib02242016"/><ref name=FOXNews140815>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/texas-gov-rick-perry-indicted-for-alleged-abuse-of-power-in-veto-dispute/|title=Texas Gov. Rick Perry indicted for alleged abuse of power in veto dispute|work=Fox News|date=October 1, 2006|access-date=August 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140816030021/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/08/15/texas-gov-perry-indicted-for-coercion-for-veto-threat/|archive-date=August 16, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=NYTimes.Gov>{{cite news|first=Manny|last=Fernandez|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/16/us/gov-rick-perry-of-texas-is-indicted-over-veto-of-funds-for-das-office.html|title=Gov. Rick Perry of Texas Is Indicted on Charge of Abuse of Power|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 15, 2014|access-date=August 20, 2014}}</ref>
===Pardons and commutations===
Under Texas law, the Governor is not permitted to grant pardon or parole, or to commute a death penalty sentence to life imprisonment, on his own initiative (the law was changed after former Governor James Ferguson was charged with selling pardons for political contributions). Instead, the Board of Pardons and Paroles will recommend to the Governor whether or not to grant such. If the Board recommends such, the Governor is free to reject the recommendation, but if the Board chooses not to recommend such, in the case of a death penalty sentence the Governor can only grant a one-time, 30-day reprieve.


Perry pleaded not guilty to both charges. Perry's supporters called the charges political and partisan,<ref name=LATimes140815>{{cite news|title=Texas Gov. Rick Perry is indicted|url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-na-pn-rick-perry-indictment-texas-20140815-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles times|access-date=August 16, 2014}}</ref> and several Democratic commentators, including ], believed charges were weak.<ref name=WaPo120815>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/texas-perry-indicted-for-coercion-for-veto-threat/2014/08/15/a7bda58a-24ce-11e4-8b10-7db129976abb_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140816150221/http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/texas-perry-indicted-for-coercion-for-veto-threat/2014/08/15/a7bda58a-24ce-11e4-8b10-7db129976abb_story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 16, 2014|title=Perry indicted|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=August 15, 2014}}</ref><ref name="BizInside08162014">{{cite news|title=Even Liberals Think The Indictment Of Rick Perry Looks Weak|first=Colin|last=Campbell|newspaper=Business Insider|date=August 16, 2014|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/liberals-criticize-rick-perry-indictment-2014-8#ixzz3AZ2yPug8|access-date=August 16, 2014}}</ref>
In 2005, ]'s appeal for a commutation of her death penalty was declined, although some allege that there was insufficient evidence to convict. Her attorney had also argued Newton was incapable of standing trial. The Board of Pardon and Parole did not recommend a commutation, and Perry chose not to grant the one-time reprieve. Newton was executed on September 14, 2005.


In February 2016, Perry was cleared of all charges.<ref>Dann, Carrie. "Texas Court Dismisses Second Felony Charge Against Rick Perry", ] (February 24, 2016).</ref>
] was an ] who was sentenced to life in a Texas maximum security prison in 1990 for smoking marijuana while on probation. Texas Judge Keith Dean had originally placed Brown on ] but changed the sentence after Brown tested positive for ]. After being defeated in the last Dallas election, Judge Dean requested the governor pardon Brown. On March 9, 2007, Perry (after receiving a recommendation from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles) granted Brown a conditional pardon.<ref>{{cite web
|title=Inmate Given Life After Drug Use Is Pardoned in Texas
|publisher=Associated Press / New York Times
|date=2007-03-10
|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/11/us/11pot.html?_r=1&oref=slogin}}</ref>


The ] ruled that courts could not limit ] and that prosecuting Perry over his action violates "the ] provision of the Texas Constitution" and infringed on Perry's ] right to ].<ref name="MalewitzTXTrib02242016">{{cite news|last1=Malewitz|first1=Jim|last2=Ramsey|first2=Ross|date=February 24, 2016|title=Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Dismisses Rick Perry Indictment|url=http://www.texastribune.org/2016/02/24/texas-high-court-dismisses-rick-perry-indictments|newspaper=]|location=]|access-date=February 25, 2016}}</ref>
On August 30, 2007, Perry commuted the death sentence of ], an accomplice in a 1996 slaying, doing so three hours before Foster was to die by lethal injection. Evidence had shown that while Foster was present at the scene of the crime (transporting the individual who actually committed the crime away from the scene in his car), he had nothing to do with the actual commission of the murder, and, for that matter, may not have even been aware that it had been taking place, as he was outside in his car at the time. Again, the Board of Pardon and Parole recommended the commutation, and Perry chose to accept the recommendation, thus converting the sentence to life in prison with a possibility of parole in 2037.<ref></ref>


===Environmental issues=== ===Retirement as governor===
{{see also|Political positions of Rick Perry|2016 United States presidential election}}
Texas-based ] was planning a $10 billion investment in eleven new coal-fired power plants over the next several years, but drastically reduced those plans as terms of their buyout<ref>http://www.marketwatch.com/story/txu-reversal-on-coal-plant-emissions-shocks-power-industry</ref>. The Governor's Clean Coal Technology Council<ref>http://governor.state.tx.us/news/executive-order/4419/</ref> continues to explore ways to generate "clean energy" with coal. After the 2009 legislative session, Perry signed House Bill 469<ref>http://www.legis.state.tx.us/billlookup/BillSummary.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB469</ref> which includes incentives<ref>http://www.governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/13476/</ref> for clean coal technology breakthroughs.


By the end of his third full term, he had served more than 14 consecutive years in office. A University of Texas at Austin–'']'' poll released in June 2013, showed Perry leading potential primary challenger Attorney General ] by double digits, 45–19%.<ref>, TexasTribune.org; retrieved August 12, 2013.</ref> In February, the same poll had Perry leading by a 3-to-1 margin (49–17%) of 32 points over Abbott.<ref>, TexasTribune.org; retrieved on August 12, 2013.</ref>
Perry rejects regulation of greenhouse gas emissions because he says it would have "devastating implications" for the Texas economy and energy industry. He has stated that he supports an "all of the above" energy strategy<ref>http://governor.state.tx.us/highlight/powering_texas</ref> including oil, coal, nuclear, biofuels, hydroelectric, solar, and wind forms of energy. Perry has collaborated with ], an alternative energy advocate and oil pioneer. Environmentalists have characterized his views on ] as "shortsighted and overly alarmist."<ref></ref> However, there is currently little agreement between scientists and conservative politicians on the matter.<ref>http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100017393/climategate-the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-of-anthropogenic-global-warming/</ref><ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/mar/04/ipcc-major-change-needed</ref>


However, Perry decided not to run for re-election to a fourth full term, announcing in front of family and supporters at the ] headquarters in ] on July 8, 2013, that he would retire instead.<ref name="abclocal1">{{cite news|url=http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/state&id=9164598|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130711043937/http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news%2Fstate&id=9164598|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 11, 2013|title=Texas Gov. Rick Perry announces he will not seek re-election in 2014|publisher=KTRK|date=July 8, 2013|access-date=July 8, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Rick Perry Won't Run for Re-election|date=July 8, 2013|url=http://www.texastribune.org/2013/07/08/rick-perrys-big-decision|newspaper=]|access-date=October 11, 2014}}</ref>
===Inauguration concert controversy===
Perry invited his friend, rocker ], to perform at a black-tie gala hours after Perry's second inauguration ceremony. Nugent appeared onstage during the inaugural ball wearing a cutoff T-shirt emblazoned with the ] and shouting offensive remarks about non-English speakers, according to press reports.<ref>Pierce, Greg. "Inside Politics," The Washington Times. January 19, 2007, page A7.</ref> The ] condemned Nugent's flying of the Confederate flag, but he denied intentionally making any racially offensive comments and stated that the flag is a symbol of southern heritage.<ref>Yahoo! Music News. "Rocker's Inaugural Act Creates Stir." January 18, 2007.</ref>


Perry retired with the 10th longest gubernatorial tenure in United States history at the end of his term on January 20, 2015, at {{formatnum:{{age in days|2000|12|21|2015|1|20}}}} days as well as the record of the longest serving Texas Governor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://editions.lib.umn.edu/smartpolitics/2013/07/08/perry-will-retire-with-10th-lo|title= Perry Will Retire with 10th Longest Gubernatorial Tenure in US History |work=Smart Politics|first=Eric|last=Ostermeier|date=July 8, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://editions.lib.umn.edu/smartpolitics/2015/01/20/perry-exits-10-in-all-time-gub|title=Perry Exits #10 in All-Time Gubernatorial Tenure|work=Smart Politics|first=Eric|last=Ostermeier|date=January 20, 2015}}</ref>
===Bilderberg Group meeting===
Perry attended the 2007 meeting of the ] in ], ].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/world/stories/DN-perry_31tex.ART.State.Edition1.43b926a.html
|title=Perry off to secret forum in Turkey |last=HOPPE |first=CHRISTY |publisher=] |date=2007-05-31 |accessdate=2007-06-22}}</ref>


==2012 presidential campaign==
===Fire at Texas Governor's Mansion===
{{main|Rick Perry 2012 presidential campaign}}
On June 8, 2008, the 152-year-old historic ] was swept by a fire the local authorities suspected was a result of ]. The mansion, which was undergoing planned maintenance, had no occupants at the time; Perry and his family had been living elsewhere since the previous fall. Because the fire occurred outside of working hours, no workers were inside, although much of the building was badly damaged.<ref>Star-Ledger Wire Services, ''Arson eyed in fire at historic Texas governor's mansion,'' The Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey), June 9, 2008, p. 11</ref> At the time of the fire, Perry himself was in ], ], on an economic development tour to encourage investment in Texas.
]


Perry was considered as a potential candidate since as early as the ], initially denying he was interested in the office but later becoming more open-minded. He formally launched his campaign on August 13, 2011, in ].<ref name="nyt110813">{{cite news |first=Ashley |last=Parker |work=] |title=Promising Better Direction, Perry Enters Race |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/14/us/politics/14perry.html |date=August 13, 2011 |access-date=January 11, 2012}}</ref>
===Comments on the sovereignty of Texas===
{{Main|Texas Secession Movement}}
====Resolution====
In April 2009, Perry endorsed a resolution supporting state ] as reserved by the ].<ref name="test">{{cite press release |title=Gov. Perry Backs Resolution Affirming Texas' Sovereignty Under 10th Amendment |publisher=Office of the Governor of Texas |date=April 9, 2009 |url=http://governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/12227/ }}</ref> On April 9, 2009, Gov. Perry said, "I believe that our federal government has become oppressive in its size, its intrusion into the lives of our citizens, and its interference with the affairs of our State. That is why I am here today to express my unwavering support for efforts all across our country to reaffirm the States' rights affirmed by the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. I believe that returning to the letter and spirit of the U.S. Constitution and its essential 10th Amendment will free our State from undue regulations, and ultimately strengthen our Union."<ref name="test"/>


While he was initially successful in fundraising and was briefly considered a serious contender for the nomination, he struggled during the debates and his poll numbers began to decline. After finishing fifth with just over 10% of the vote in the ] on January 3, 2012, Perry considered dropping out of the presidential race but did not.<ref name="reu120104">{{cite news |first=John |last=Whitesides |work=Reuters |title=Perry may drop presidential bid after Iowa |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-campaign-perry-idINTRE8020LC20120104 |date=January 3, 2012 |access-date=January 11, 2012}}</ref><ref name="lat120103">{{cite news |first=Michael A. |last=Memoli |work=] |title=Rick Perry suspending campaign after disappointing finish in Iowa caucuses |url=https://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-rick-perry-suspend-campaign-20120103,0,7870108.story |date=January 3, 2012 |access-date=January 1, 2012}}</ref> After a poor showing in New Hampshire and with "lagging" poll numbers in South Carolina, Perry formally announced he was suspending his campaign on January 19, 2012.<ref name="nyt120119a">{{Cite news |first1=Jeff |last1=Zeleny |first2=Michael D. |last2=Shear |work=The Caucus |publisher=] |title=Perry to End Bid for Presidency |url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/19/perry-to-end-bid-for-presidency/ |date=January 19, 2012 |access-date=January 19, 2012}}</ref>
====Tea Party protest====
After a ] held on April 15, 2009, Perry responded to a reporter's question about secession, saying, "Texas is a unique place. When we came into the union in 1845, one of the issues was that we would be able to leave if we decided to do that...My hope is that America and Washington in particular pays attention. We've got a great union. There's absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, who knows what may come of that."<ref name=hc>{{cite news |title=Perry gets the buzz and the bucks, too |work=] |date=April 17, 2009 |first=R.G. |last=Ratcliffe |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/6377814.html }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Perry says Texas can leave the union if it wants to |work=] |date=April 15, 2009 |first=R.G. |last=Ratcliffe |url=http://blogs.chron.com/texaspolitics/archives/2009/04/perry_says_texa.html }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Governor Says Texans May Want to Secede From Union But Probably Won't |agency=] |work=] |date=April 15, 2009 |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/15/governor-says-texans-want-secede-union-probably-wont/ }}</ref> In reference to Perry's comments, a spokesperson said that Perry "never advocated seceding".<ref name=hc/> According to '']'' magazine, experts say that Texas cannot legally secede but it may split into five states.<ref name="Secede">, ], April 17, 2009</ref>
In an op-ed piece<ref name="Reflections on a Raging Debate"></ref> distributed on May 17, 2009, Gov. Perry stated "I have never advocated for secession and never will."


==2016 presidential campaign==
====Responses====
{{Main|Rick Perry 2016 presidential campaign}}
On April 19, the '']'' posted an editorial<ref></ref>, writing that Perry "uttered some words that take that discussion to a level not heard since, oh, 1861 - when Texas in fact did secede and joined the Confederate States of America. We all know what happened next."
]]]


Almost immediately following the 2012 election, Perry was mentioned as a potential candidate for the presidency in the 2016 presidential election, with a '']'' magazine article in July 2013 saying that "everything is aligned for Rick Perry to be the Republican nominee for president in 2016."<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Miller|first1=Zeke|title=Can Anyone Stop Rick Perry In 2016?|url=https://swampland.time.com/2013/07/09/can-anyone-stop-rick-perry-in-2016/|access-date=May 16, 2015|magazine=Time|date=July 9, 2013}}</ref>
U.S. Senator ] (R-TX) said:<blockquote> "Well, I don't think it's particularly useful. The legal response is 'You can't do it.' We fought a Civil War. You can't do it... I think it's a distraction. We have a lot of serious issues. This is not one of them."</blockquote>


Perry officially launched his 2016 presidential candidacy on June 4, 2015, in ]. A version of the ] song "Answer To No One" boomed from loudspeakers, as Perry took to the stage.<ref>Katz, Celeste. , '']'' (June 4, 2015).</ref><ref>Paulson, Dave. , '']'' (June 5, 2015).</ref><ref name="bigs_Rick">{{cite news|title=Rick Perry announces 2016 bid, a re-do from 2012|last1=Weissert|first1=Will|last2=Peoples|first2=Steve|agency=Associated Press|access-date=June 4, 2015|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/8e05a812781f4a26a1641086b2365b11/humbler-rick-perry-hopes-2016-bid-goes-better-first|archive-date=June 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610090118/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/8e05a812781f4a26a1641086b2365b11/humbler-rick-perry-hopes-2016-bid-goes-better-first|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="cnn._Rick">{{cite news|title=Rick Perry launches comeback bid for White House|last=Bradner|first=Eric|work=CNN|access-date=June 4, 2015|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/04/politics/rick-perry-2016-presidential-announcement/index.html}}</ref><ref name="usat_Rick">{{cite web|title=Rick Perry launches 2016 presidential campaign|last1=Camia|first1=Catalina|last2=Jervis|first2=Rick|work=USA Today|access-date=June 4, 2015|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2015/06/04/rick-perry-president-2016-campaign/23842295}}</ref> He then announced his candidacy at the scheduled press conference.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://time.com/3909057/rick-perry-2016-campaign-launch/|title=Rick Perry Announces Presidential Bid|magazine=]|date=June 4, 2015|access-date=June 4, 2015|author1=Beckwith, Ryan Teague|author2=Rhodan, Maya}}</ref>
Rep. ] (D-TX) said:<blockquote> "I think the governor got carried away. You see posturing in preparation for the Republican primary. It serves no useful purpose."</blockquote>


Perry withdrew on September 11, 2015—becoming the first in the field of major candidates to drop out—following poor polling after the first debate.<ref name="auto1"/> In the weeks before he dropped out of the race, Perry's campaign was in dire financial straits, spending nearly four times as much as it raised.<ref>Patrick Svitek, , ''Texas Tribune'', October 15, 2015.</ref>
Rep. ] (R-TX) said:<blockquote> "I'm receptive to the principle of secession. You should have the right to leave."<ref></ref></blockquote>


On January 25, 2016, Perry endorsed United States Senator ] (R-TX) for president.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/rick-perry-endorses-ted-cruz-218170|title=Rick Perry endorses Ted Cruz − politico.com|author=Katie Glueck, Politico|date=January 25, 2016|work=Politico|access-date=January 25, 2016}}</ref> On May 5, 2016, following the suspension of Cruz's presidential campaign, Perry endorsed Donald Trump for the presidency.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Svitek|first1=Patrick|title=Rick Perry on Trump Endorsement: "We Let Bygones be Bygones"|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2016/05/06/perry-defends-trump-endorsement/|access-date=June 13, 2017|work=Texas Tribune|date=May 6, 2016}}</ref>
===Response to H1N1 influenza pandemic===


==Secretary of Energy==
Governor Perry asked for federal assistance in fighting the ].<ref></ref>
]
], ], and ] in 2017]]
On December 14, 2016, President-elect Trump nominated Perry as Secretary of Energy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://greatagain.gov/president-elect-trump-to-nominate-rick-perry-as-energy-secretary-bf296f20b867|title=President-Elect Donald J. Trump Intends toe Former Texas Governor Rick Perry as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy|publisher=GreatAgain.gov|access-date=December 14, 2016|date=December 14, 2016|author=The Trump-Pence Transition Team|archive-date=September 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905122120/https://greatagain.gov/president-elect-trump-to-nominate-rick-perry-as-energy-secretary-bf296f20b867|url-status=dead}}</ref> The nomination initially faced heavy criticism as [[2012 Republican Party presidential debates and forums#November 9, 2011 – Auburn Hills, Michigan|
Perry had called for the Department of Energy to be abolished during his 2012 presidential campaign]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/12/rick-perry-energy-secretary-trump/510506/|title=Will Rick Perry Promote Science at the Department of Energy?|website=The Atlantic|date=December 14, 2016 |first=Clare |last=Foran |access-date=October 10, 2019 }}</ref> and had been unable to remember the name of the department during a Presidential debate.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/4598910/rick-perry-department-energy-oops-gaffe//|title=Rick Perry Infamously Forgot About the Department of Energy. Now He Might Lead It|magazine=Time|date=December 13, 2016 |first=Katie |last=Reilly |access-date=July 11, 2020 }}</ref> His nomination was approved by a 16–7 vote from the ] on January 31, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wolfgang|first=Ben|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jan/31/rick-perry-ryan-zinke-clear-senate-committee-bipar/|title=Rick Perry, Ryan Zinke clear Senate committee with bipartisan support|work=]|date=January 31, 2017|access-date=January 31, 2017}}</ref>


On March 2, 2017, the United States Senate voted 62–37 to confirm Perry.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://decisiondeskhq.com/vote-tracker/confirmation-vote-of-rick-perry-for-secretary-of-energy/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303045032/https://decisiondeskhq.com/vote-tracker/confirmation-vote-of-rick-perry-for-secretary-of-energy/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 3, 2017|title=Confirmation Vote of Rick Perry for Secretary of Energy {{!}} Decision Desk HQ|date=March 2, 2017|work=Decision Desk HQ|access-date=March 2, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> The next month, Perry ordered a study of the ] with particular consideration to ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-04-15/electric-grid-study-ordered-by-u-s-energy-chief-to-boost-coal|title=Electric Grid Study Ordered by U.S. Energy Chief to Boost Coal|author=Jennifer A Dlouhy and Jennifer Jacobs|date=April 15, 2017|website=] |access-date=April 17, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://prime-policy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Energy-Memo.pdf|title=Study Examining Electricity Markets and Reliability |first=Rick|last=Perry|date=April 14, 2017|publisher=]|website=]|access-date=May 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521103019/http://prime-policy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Energy-Memo.pdf|archive-date=May 21, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Political future==
{{Main|Texas gubernatorial election, 2010}}


In a CNBC interview on June 19, 2017, when asked about the role of human activity in the recent rise of the Earth's temperature, Perry said, "The fact is this shouldn't be a debate about, 'Is the climate changing, is man having an effect on it?' Yeah, we are. The question should be just how much, and what are the policy changes that we need to make to effect that?"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/19/energy-sec-rick-perry-says-co2-is-not-the-main-driver-of-climate-change.html|title=Energy Secretary Rick Perry says CO2 is not the main driver of climate change|first=Tom|last=DiChristopher|website=]|date=June 19, 2017|access-date=July 11, 2018}}</ref>
Should he complete his current term, Perry will have been in office for over ten consecutive years (the remainder of ]'s second term after he left to become ], plus two elected full terms). He is currently the longest serving Governor of Texas in terms of both ''total'' time in office and ''continuous'' time in office. (] previously held the record for total time in office, having served two non-consecutive four-year terms; ] previously held the continuous time record at 7.5 years.)


In July 2017, Perry strongly expressed his support for Donald Trump's ban on transgender people from serving in the U.S. military stating that "The idea that the American people need to be paying for these types of operations to change your sex is not very wise from a standpoint of economics."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Malewitz|first=Jim|date=2017-07-28|title=Rick Perry: "I totally support" Trump's ban on transgender troops|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2017/07/28/rick-perry-i-totally-support-trumps-ban-transgender-troops/|access-date=2022-01-25|website=The Texas Tribune|language=en}}</ref>
Texas does not impose term limits on its governors; thus, Perry is free to run for a third full term in ], and in April 2008, Perry announced his intent to run for reelection.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.star-telegram.com/804/story/589097.html |title=Gov. Perry says he'll run again in 2010 |date=2008-04-17 |accessdate=2008-12-02 |publisher='']'' |author=Batheja, Aman}}</ref> On the March 2, 2010 primaries, Perry defeated senator ], and is now the Republican candidate for Governor of Texas. Other candidates included Texas secession candidate ], and Wharton County Republican Chair ]. ], chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, had already committed her support to Perry prior to her election as chairman, but under party rules, she must remain neutral in the primary contest. Adams succeeded ], who resigned to party post to work actively in the Perry campaign. If he is successful, Perry would be the state's fourth governor to be elected to three terms following Allan Shivers, Price Daniel, and John Connally, and the first to be elected to three four-year terms.


In November 2017, Perry suggested that using fossil fuels to light dangerous places in Africa could reduce sexual assault, saying, "When the lights are on, when you have light that shines the righteousness, if you will, on those types of acts." Perry was criticized by the ] for "exploiting the struggle of those most affected by climate change".<ref>{{cite web|title=Rick Perry under fire for suggestion fossil fuels can reduce sexual assault|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/nov/02/rick-perry-fossil-fuels-sexual-assault|work=]|date=November 2, 2017|access-date=November 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Dooley|first1=Erin|title=Rick Perry suggests fossil fuels could reduce sexual assault in Africa|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/rick-perry-suggests-fossil-fuels-reduce-sexual-assault/story?id=50891889|publisher=]|access-date=November 3, 2017}}</ref>
Perry has declined aspirations to higher office; Perry was originally included on the 2012 Presidential Straw Poll ballot at the Values Voter Summit in September 2009, but his name was removed at his request.<ref></ref> In April 2008 while appearing as a guest on ]'s ] he specifically stated that he would not agree to serve as Vice President in a McCain Administration, stating that he already had "the best job in the world" as Governor of Texas. Further, during a Republican gubernatorial debate in January 2010, when asked if he would commit to serving out his term if re-elected, he replied that "the place hasn't been made yet" where he would rather serve than the Governor of Texas.


For one week in November 2018, it was reported that the U.S. had become a net exporter of oil, temporarily ending nearly 75 continuous years of dependence on foreign oil.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-12-06/u-s-becomes-a-net-oil-exporter-for-the-first-time-in-75-years|title=The U.S. Just Became a Net Oil Exporter for the First Time in 75 Years.|first=Javier|last=Blas|publisher=]|date=December 6, 2018|access-date=May 13, 2019}}</ref>
==2008 presidential endorsements==
In October 2007, despite their political differences on many social issues, he endorsed ] for President. "Rudy Giuliani is the most prepared individual of either party to be the next President... I'm not talkin' about any mayor, I'm talkin' about America's Mayor," Perry said.<ref></ref> Some conjectured that, if Giuliani were elected, Perry might have been considered for a position in the new President's cabinet, or perhaps the Vice Presidency.<ref> Dallas News, October 17, 2007</ref> However, Giuliani withdrew from the race on January 30, 2008 after failing to gain support in early primaries.


On October 4, 2019, the ''New York Times'' reported that he was expected to resign as Secretary of Energy by the end of 2019, based on information from anonymous sources.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/04/climate/rick-perry-energy-secretary.html|title=Rick Perry Is Said to Be Resigning as Energy Secretary by Year's End|last1=Friedman|first1=Lisa|last2=Haberman|first2=Maggie|work=The New York Times|date=October 4, 2019|access-date=October 6, 2019}}</ref> On October 17, 2019, Perry told Trump he would resign by the end of the year, ultimately departing at the beginning of December.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/17/us/politics/rick-perry-energy-secretary-resigns.html|title=Perry Tells Trump He Will Resign as Energy Secretary|last1=Haberman|first1=Maggie|date=October 17, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 17, 2019|last2=Friedman|first2=Lisa|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="HillLastDay" />
Both Giuliani and Perry immediately endorsed Arizona Senator ] for President.<ref> Dallas Morning News, January 31, 2008</ref> Shortly after ] somewhat unexpected withdrawal from the race in early February, the Governor reportedly<ref name="test">, additional text.</ref> called McCain rival ] and suggested that he withdraw as well to clear the way for McCain to secure the nomination. Huckabee declined this request and made it clear publicly that he would only abandon his presidential bid if McCain secured enough delegates. Huckabee withdrew his presidential bid on March 5, 2008 after John McCain won the Texas and Ohio primaries.


===Trump–Ukraine scandal===
==Publications==
{{main|Trump–Ukraine scandal}}
Rick Perry's has written one book. '']'' was published in February 2008.<ref>{{cite book |last=Perry |first=Rick |title=On My Honor: Why the American Values of the Boy Scouts are Worth Fighting For |publisher=Stroud & Hall |year=2008 |month=February |isbn=978-0979646225}}</ref> In his book, Perry (who earned the Eagle Scout rank) criticizes the ] for its legal actions against the ].<ref>{{cite news |title=In first book, Perry criticizes ACLU and defends Boy Scouts |url=http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/02/09/0209perrybook.html |last=Selby |first=W. Gardner |publisher=] |date=2008-02-09 |accessdate=2008-06-22}}</ref>
{{Trump–Ukraine scandal}}
A little more than a month after Perry attended Zelenskyy's May 2019 inauguration, Ukraine awarded the contract to Perry's supporters after Perry recommended one of them to be Zelenskyy's energy adviser. The recommendation was made as Zelenskyy was attempting to secure the nearly $400 million in U.S. military aid. A week after Perry attended the inauguration, "Ukrainian Energy", a new joint venture between Michael Bleyzer's investment firm SigmaBleyzer and Alex Cranberg's Aspect Energy, submitted a bid for a 50-year drilling contract at a Ukraine government-controlled site called Varvynska.<ref name=BleyzerCranbergPerry >{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/6d8ae551fb884371a2a592ed85a74426 |title=After boost from Perry, backers got huge gas deal in Ukraine |first1=Desmond |last1=Butler |first2=Michael |last2=Biesecker |first3=Stephen |last3=Braun |first4=Richard |last4=Lardner |date=11 November 2019 |website=] |access-date=12 November 2019}}</ref>
]
A ] between Trump and ] president ] led in September to ] and an ] against Trump. Two weeks after the inquiry was launched, Trump claimed in a conference call with Congressional Republican leaders that he had only made the telephone call at Perry's urging.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/trump-blames-energy-secretary-rick-perry-ukraine-call-center-impeachment-n1062931|title=Trump blames Energy Secretary Rick Perry for Ukraine call at center of impeachment inquiry|work=NBC News|date=October 6, 2019|access-date=October 6, 2019}}</ref> Perry's spokesperson said that Perry had suggested Trump discuss energy security with Zelenskyy, but energy was not mentioned in the publicly released memo about the conversations, which instead focused on Trump asking Zelenskyy to launch investigations into ], ], ], and the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.axios.com/trump-blamed-rick-perry-call-ukraine-zelensky-8178447a-0374-4ac6-b321-a9454b0565d4.html|title=Scoop: Trump pins Ukraine call on Energy Secretary Rick Perry |last1=Treene|first1=Alayna |last2=Swan|first2=Jonathan |date=October 5, 2019 |work=] |access-date=October 6, 2019}}</ref> Per Trump's direction earlier that year, Perry spoke with ] about Ukraine, which ] confirmed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/16/politics/rick-perry-rudy-giuliani-trump-ukraine/index.html|title=Wall Street Journal: Rick Perry spoke with Rudy Giuliani at Trump's direction about Ukraine|first=Paul|last=LeBlanc|website=CNN|date=October 17, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/rick-perry-called-rudy-giuliani-at-trumps-direction-on-ukraine-concerns-11571273635|title=WSJ News Exclusive &#124; Rick Perry Called Rudy Giuliani at Trump's Direction on Ukraine Concerns|first=Timothy Puko and Rebecca|last=Ballhaus|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=October 17, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/rick-perry-reached-out-to-giuliani-at-trumps-direction-on-ukraine-2019-10-16|title=Rick Perry reached out to Giuliani at Trump's direction on Ukraine|first=Timothy Puko, Rebecca|last=Ballhaus|website=MarketWatch}}</ref> Perry denied ever mentioning the Bidens in his discussions with Trump or Ukrainian officials.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rick-perry-denies-discussing-bidens-with-trump-or-ukraine-officials-reports|title=Rick Perry denies discussing Bidens with Trump or Ukraine officials: reports|last=Calicchio|first=Dom|work=Fox News|date=October 6, 2019|access-date=October 6, 2019}}</ref> Mulvaney had put ], ], and Perry in charge of managing the ] instead of diplomats at the ] and the ].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/mulvaney-emerges-as-a-key-facilitator-of-the-campaign-to-pressure-ukraine/2019/10/15/9d46b7ae-ef76-11e9-89eb-ec56cd414732_story.html|title=Mulvaney emerges as a key facilitator of the campaign to pressure Ukraine|newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/15/politics/george-kent-rudy-giuliani-ukraine-house-testimony/index.html|title=State Department official told to lie low after raising complaints about Giuliani|first1=Jeremy|last1=Herb|first2=Manu|last2=Raju|first3=Lauren|last3=Fox|website=CNN|date=October 15, 2019}}</ref>

Perry was mentioned in October 2019 by former U.S. officials in relation to reports he planned to have ] replaced as a member of the board at ] with someone aligned with Republican interests. Perry denied the reports.<ref> CNN. October 17, 2019.</ref><ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |title=How Rick Perry Became a Figure in the Impeachment Inquiry |date=October 18, 2019 |first1=Timothy |last1=Puko |first2=Georgi |last2=Kantchev |access-date=November 3, 2019 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-rick-perry-became-a-figure-in-the-impeachment-inquiry-11571437260 }}</ref> In November 2019, both Sondland and ], who serves as counselor of political affairs at the U.S Embassy in Ukraine, testified that Perry had played a senior role in the Ukraine campaign, with Holmes even describing Perry, along with Sondland and Volker, was one of the "Three Amigos" who directly assisted both Trump and Giuliani.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2019/11/20/diplomat-gordon-sondland-the-key-amigo-to-testify-as-trump-impeachment-hearings-intensify/|title=Sondland testifies that Trump sought 'quid pro quo' with Ukraine and 'everyone was in the loop'|date=November 21, 2019|website=Dallas News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statesman.com/news/20191120/testimony-points-to-rick-perrys-ukraine-role|title=Testimony points to Rick Perry's Ukraine role|first=Maria|last=Recio|website=Austin American-Statesman}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/11/20/who-is-david-holmes-why-does-his-public-testimony-matter/|title=Analysis &#124; Who is David Holmes and why does his public testimony matter?|newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/witness-david-holmes-expresses-concerns-about-giulianis-role-in-ukraine|title=WATCH: Witness David Holmes expresses concerns about Giuliani's role in Ukraine|date=November 21, 2019|website=PBS NewsHour}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.channel3000.com/news/politics/national-politics/read-david-holmes-opening-remarks-at-impeachment-hearing/1144288741|title=READ: David Holmes' opening remarks at impeachment hearing|date=November 21, 2019|website=WISC}}</ref>

==Career outside politics==
In February 2015, Perry announced that he would join the board of directors of ],<ref name="etp_bio">{{cite web|url=http://governance.energytransfer.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=106094&p=irol-govBio&ID=243624|title=EnergyTransfer.com – Investor Relations – Biography|access-date=December 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202005557/http://governance.energytransfer.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=106094&p=irol-govBio&ID=243624|archive-date=February 2, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> which owns and operates one of the largest energy asset portfolios in the United States, and Sunoco Partners, another major Dallas energy company.<ref name="etp_about">{{cite web|url=http://ir.energytransfer.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=106094&p=irol-IRHome|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130410172321/http://ir.energytransfer.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=106094&p=irol-IRHome|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-04-10|title=EnergyTransfer.com – Investor Relations – Investor Relations Home}}</ref><ref name="Dallas News">{{Cite news|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/business/energy/2017/01/05/rick-perry-leaves-board-dallas-based-energy-transfer-partners-confirmation-looming|title=Rick Perry leaves board of Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners with confirmation looming|date=January 5, 2017|work=Dallas News|access-date=August 24, 2017|language=en}}</ref> According to SEC filings, Perry resigned from the boards of both companies on December 31, 2016.<ref name="Dallas News"/> In early January 2020, Perry joined the board of LE GP, general partner of Energy Transfer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.desmogblog.com/2020/01/03/energy-secretary-rick-perry-rejoins-energy-transfer-board-dakota-access|title=Breaking: Former Energy Secretary Rick Perry Rejoins Board of Dakota Access Owner, Energy Transfer|last=Kelly|first=Sharon|date=2019-01-03|website=DeSmog|language=en|access-date=2020-01-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/business/energy/2020/01/04/ex-energy-secretary-rick-perry-rejoins-energy-transfers-board/|title=Ex-Energy Secretary Rick Perry rejoins Energy Transfer's board|date=2020-01-04|website=Dallas News|language=en|access-date=2020-01-04}}</ref> In February 2020, Perry rejoined MCNA Dental's board of directors as chief strategy officer and vice chairman.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://politi.co/2Vchzku|title=Crapo aide heads to K Street|last=Meyer|first=Theodoric|website=POLITICO|date=February 19, 2020 |language=en|access-date=2020-03-31}}</ref>

===''Dancing with the Stars''===
Perry was one of the celebrities competing on ] of '']'' in 2016. He was partnered with professional dancer ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gma.yahoo.com/dwts-2016-celebrity-cast-revealed-ryan-lochte-amber-123029354--abc-news-tv.html|title='DWTS' 2016 Celebrity Cast Revealed: Ryan Lochte, Amber Rose, Rick Perry Among Star Lineup|work=Good Morning America: Yahoo|access-date=August 30, 2016|archive-date=August 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160830144906/https://gma.yahoo.com/dwts-2016-celebrity-cast-revealed-ryan-lochte-amber-123029354--abc-news-tv.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Perry and Slater were eliminated on the third week of competition and finished in 12th place out of 13 competitors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buddytv.com/articles/dancing-with-the-stars/dancing-with-the-stars-results-61420.aspx|title='Dancing with the Stars' Results Live Blog: The Second Elimination|work=buddytv.com|date=September 27, 2016|access-date=September 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160929133257/http://www.buddytv.com/articles/dancing-with-the-stars/dancing-with-the-stars-results-61420.aspx|archive-date=September 29, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Bibliography==
* ''On My Honor: Why the American Values of the Boy Scouts are Worth Fighting For'' (2008)
* '']'' (2010)

==Personal life==
In 1982, Perry married ], his childhood sweetheart whom he had known since ]. They have two adult children, Griffin and Sydney. Anita attended ] and earned a degree in nursing. She has spearheaded a number of health-related initiatives such as the Anita Thigpen Perry Endowment at the ], which focuses on nutrition, ], ], and early childhood development.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uthscsa.edu/opa/issues/new34-24/perry.html|title=Endowment named for First Lady Anita Perry – University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio|publisher=Uthscsa.edu|date=June 15, 2001|access-date=August 18, 2011|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231208/http://uthscsa.edu/opa/issues/new34-24/perry.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> She helped develop and host the ].<ref name="Texas Conference for Women">{{cite web|last=Giles|first=Mike|title=Governor Rick Perry Leads Texas by Faith|url=http://www.dfwchristianfamily.com/cover/Governor-Rick-Perry-Leads-Texas-by-Faith.php|publisher=DFW Christian Family|access-date=August 22, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007205513/http://www.dfwchristianfamily.com/cover/Governor-Rick-Perry-Leads-Texas-by-Faith.php|archive-date=October 7, 2011}}</ref>

Perry played himself in minor roles for several feature films, including '']'', ''Deep in the Heart'', and '']''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rick Perry|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1752773/|publisher=IMDb|access-date=June 13, 2017}}</ref>

Perry is a member of the National Society of the ] and was awarded its Gold Good Citizenship Medal.<ref>, txssar.org, February 11, 2010.</ref>


==Electoral history== ==Electoral history==
{{Election box begin |title=Texas Gubernatorial Election 2002}} {{Election box begin no change
|title = ]
{{Election box candidate with party link
}}
|party = Republican Party (US)
|candidate = Rick Perry (Incumbent) {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|candidate = Rick Perry (incumbent)
|votes = 2,617,106
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|percentage = 58.1
|votes = 2,632,591
|change =
|percentage = 57.81
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|candidate = ]
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|votes = 1,819,798
|percentage = 39.96
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|candidate = Jeff Daiell
|party = Libertarian Party (United States)
|votes = 66,720
|percentage = 1.47
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|candidate = Rahul Mahajan
|party = Green Party (United States)
|votes = 32,187
|percentage = 0.71
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|candidate = Elaine Eure Henderson (])
|party = Independent politician
|votes = 1,715
|percentage = 0.04
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|candidate = Earl W. O'Neil (write-in)
|party = Independent politician
|votes = 976
|percentage = 0.02
}} }}
{{Election box candidate with party link {{Election box turnout no change
|votes = 4,553,987
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|percentage = 100.00
|candidate = ]
|votes = 1,809,915
|percentage = 40.3
|change =
}} }}
{{Election box end}} {{Election box end}}


{{Election box begin no change
{{Election box begin |title=Texas Gubernatorial Election 2006<ref> as of 24 July 2009</ref>}}
|title = ]
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Republican Party (US)
|candidate = Rick Perry (Incumbent)
|votes = 1,716,792
|percentage = 39.02
|change = -19.08
}} }}
{{Election box candidate with party link {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (US) |party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Rick Perry (incumbent)
|votes = 1,716,803
|percentage = 39.03
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = ] |candidate = ]
|votes = 1,310,337 |votes = 1,310,353
|percentage = 29.78 |percentage = 29.79
|change = -10.5
}} }}
{{Election box candidate {{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Independent |party = Independent (United States)
|candidate = ] |candidate = ]
|votes = 796,851 |votes = 797,577
|percentage = 18.11 |percentage = 18.13
|change =
}} }}
{{Election box candidate {{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Independent |party = Independent (United States)
|candidate = ] |candidate = ]
|votes = 547,674 |votes = 546,869
|percentage = 12.44 |percentage = 12.43
|change =
}} }}
{{Election box candidate {{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Libertarian |party = Libertarian Party (United States)
|candidate = ] |candidate = James Werner
|votes = 26,749 |votes = 26,748
|percentage = 0.60 |percentage = 0.61
}}
|change =
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Independent (United States)
|candidate = James "Patriot" Dillon (])
|votes = 718
|percentage = 0.02
}}
{{Election box turnout no change
|votes = 4,399,068
|percentage = 100.00
}} }}
{{Election box end}} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title = ]
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Rick Perry (incumbent)
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 2,733,784
| percentage = 54.97
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = ]
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 2,102,606
| percentage = 42.30
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = ]
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes = 109,057
| percentage = 2.19
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Deb Shafto
| party = Green Party (United States)
| votes = 19,475
| percentage = 0.39
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Andy Barron (write-in)
| party = Independent (United States)
| votes = 7,973
| percentage = 0.15
}}
{{Election box turnout no change
|votes = 4,979,870
|percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}

==See also==
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==References== ==References==
{{reflist|2}} {{reflist}}


==External links== ==External links==
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* at '']''
* http://www.newyorker.com see The New Yorker, September 7, 2009 Article "Trial by Fire, Did Texas execute an innocent man", by David Grann.
* at the '']''
* ''official state website''
* at the '']''
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* ''official campaign website'' * at '']''
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* {{C-SPAN|24767}}
{{GovLinks | natgov = 35c6ae3effb81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD | followmoney = | votesmart = 15373 | ontheissues = Rick_Perry.htm | nyt = p/rick_perry/index.html | washpo = Rick+Perry | findagrave = }}
*''Follow the Money'' - Rick Perry
** Governor campaign contributions
* Lt. Governor campaign contributions
* from ''Votimus''
* Jenny Staff, ''Austin Chronicle'' May 28, 1999
* Shelley Kofler, ''WFAA-TV'', May 14, 2003
* Austin Chronicle, February 27, 2004


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Latest revision as of 05:21, 13 December 2024

American politician (born 1950) Not to be confused with Rick Parry.

Rick Perry
Official portrait, 2017
14th United States Secretary of Energy
In office
March 2, 2017 – December 1, 2019
PresidentDonald Trump
DeputyDan Brouillette
Preceded byErnest Moniz
Succeeded byDan Brouillette
47th Governor of Texas
In office
December 21, 2000 – January 20, 2015
LieutenantBill Ratliff
David Dewhurst
Preceded byGeorge W. Bush
Succeeded byGreg Abbott
39th Lieutenant Governor of Texas
In office
January 19, 1999 – December 21, 2000
GovernorGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byBob Bullock
Succeeded byBill Ratliff
9th Agriculture Commissioner of Texas
In office
January 15, 1991 – January 19, 1999
GovernorAnn Richards
George W. Bush
Preceded byJim Hightower
Succeeded bySusan Combs
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 64th district
In office
January 8, 1985 – January 8, 1991
Preceded byJoe Hanna
Succeeded byJohn R. Cook
Personal details
BornJames Richard Perry
(1950-03-04) March 4, 1950 (age 74)
Haskell, Texas, U.S.
Political partyRepublican (since 1989)
Other political
affiliations
Democratic (before 1989)
Spouse Anita Thigpen ​(m. 1982)
Children2
EducationTexas A&M University (BS)
Signature
WebsiteDepartment of Energy website
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUS Air Force
Years of service1972–1977
RankCaptain
Unit772nd Tactical Airlift Squadron
This article is part of a series about
Rick Perry

Governor of Texas
Presidential campaigns
Secretary of Energy


James Richard Perry (born March 4, 1950) is an American politician who served as the 14th United States secretary of energy from 2017 to 2019 in the first administration of Donald Trump. He previously served as the 47th governor of Texas from 2000 to 2015 and ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for President of the United States in the 2012 and 2016 elections.

Born into a family of cotton farmers in Haskell, Texas, Perry graduated from Texas A&M University in 1972 and entered into the United States Air Force, serving a five-year stint and achieving the rank of captain. After leaving the Air Force in 1977, Perry returned to Texas and entered politics, serving as a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1985 to 1991. Initially a Democrat, Perry switched parties in 1989 and became a Republican, and was elected Agriculture Commissioner of Texas the following year. In 1998, Perry was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas, becoming the state's first Republican Lieutenant Governor since Reconstruction.

Perry assumed the governorship of Texas in December 2000, after Governor George W. Bush resigned following his election as President. Perry was re-elected Governor three times, becoming the longest-serving governor in Texas history. As Governor, Perry identified as a staunch conservative, enacting conservative fiscal policies, restrictions on abortion and expanded gun rights. Long considered a potential presidential candidate, Perry officially announced his candidacy for the 2012 Republican nomination for President in August 2011. Perry initially performed well in polling and showed strong fundraising prowess, leading to him being considered a serious contender for the nomination. However, his support declined following debates and early primaries, and he withdrew from the race in January 2012.

Perry declined to seek re-election to a fourth term as Governor and left office in 2015, launching a second presidential campaign shortly thereafter. Perry's second presidential campaign failed to garner substantial polling support, fundraising or media attention, leading him to withdraw from the race after only three months. Perry was initially a vocal opponent of Donald Trump's 2016 campaign for President, however, he later endorsed Trump after he secured the Republican nomination. After winning the presidency, Trump appointed Perry as Secretary of Energy, and he was confirmed by the United States Senate in a 62–37 vote on March 2, 2017. On October 17, 2019, Perry reported to Trump that he intended to resign as Secretary of Energy at the end of the year. He left office on December 1, 2019.

Early life

A fifth-generation Texan, Perry was born on March 4, 1950, in Haskell, Texas, and raised in Paint Creek, Texas, the son of dryland cotton farmers Joseph Ray Perry and Amelia June Holt Perry. He has one older sister. Perry's ancestry is almost entirely English, dating as far back as the original Thirteen Colonies. His family has been in Texas since before the Texas Revolution.

His father, a Democrat, was a long-time Haskell County commissioner and school board member. Perry has said that his interest in politics probably began in November 1961, when his father took him to the funeral of U.S. Representative Sam Rayburn.

Perry was in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. The BSA has honored Perry with the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.

College

Perry attended Texas A&M University where he was a member of the Corps of Cadets and the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. He was elected senior class social secretary, a member and redpot in Aggie Bonfire, and one of A&M's five "yell leaders". He graduated in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science.

In 1989, he said, "I was probably a bit of a free spirit, not particularly structured real well for life outside of a military regime, I would have not lasted at Texas Tech or the University of Texas. I would have hit the fraternity scene and lasted about one semester."

First jobs

In the early 1970s, Perry interned during several summers with Southwestern Advantage, as a door-to-door book salesman. "I count my time working for Dortch Oldham as one of the most important formative experiences of my life", Perry said in 2010. "There is nothing that tests your commitment to a goal like getting a few doors closed in your face." He said that "Mr. Oldham taught legions of young people to communicate quickly, clearly and with passion, a lesson that has served me well in my life since then."

Upon graduation from college in 1972, Perry was commissioned as an officer in the United States Air Force and completed pilot training in February 1974. He was then assigned as a Lockheed C-130 Hercules pilot with the 772nd Tactical Airlift Squadron at Dyess Air Force Base, located in Abilene, Texas. Perry's duties included two-month overseas rotations at RAF Mildenhall, located in Mildenhall, England, and Rhein-Main Air Base, located at Frankfurt am Main, Germany. His missions included a 1974 U.S. State Department drought relief effort in Mali, Mauritania and Chad, and, in 1976, earthquake relief in Guatemala. He left the Air Force in 1977 at the rank of captain, returned to Texas, and went into farming cotton with his father.

Early political career

Perry with President George H. W. Bush in 1990

Texas Legislature

In 1984, Perry was elected to the Texas House of Representatives as a Democrat from district 64, which included his home county of Haskell. He served on the House Appropriations and Calendars committees during his three two-year terms in office. He befriended fellow freshman state representative Lena Guerrero, a staunch liberal Democrat who endorsed Perry's reelection bid in 2006.

Perry was part of the "Pit Bulls", a group of Appropriations members who sat on the lower dais in the committee room ("the pit") who pushed for austere state budgets during the 1980s. At one point, The Dallas Morning News named him one of the ten most effective members of the legislature.

In 1987, Perry voted for a $5.7 billion tax increase proposed by Republican Governor Bill Clements. Perry supported Al Gore in the 1988 Democratic presidential primaries and worked for Gore's campaign in Texas. On September 29, 1989, Perry announced that he was switching parties, becoming a Republican. On a guest appearance on Fox show Hannity, he partially credits Reagan as part of the reason he became a Republican, also stating he switched political parties sooner in his life than Reagan.

Agriculture Commissioner

In 1990, as a newly minted Republican, Perry challenged Jim Hightower, the incumbent Democratic Agriculture Commissioner. Karl Rove was Perry's campaign manager.

In the Republican primary on March 13, 1990, Perry polled 276,558 votes (47%), with Richard McIver garnering 176,976 votes (30%) and Gene L. Duke, who placed third, polling 132,497 votes (23%). Since Perry fell shy of the necessary 50% to win outright, a runoff was held between Perry and McIver set on April 10, 1990. In the runoff, he emerged victorious, garnering 96,649 votes (69%) to McIver's 43,921 votes (31%).

During 1990, Hightower's office was embroiled in an FBI investigation into corruption and bribery. Three aides were convicted in 1993 of using public funds for political fundraising, although Hightower himself was not found to be involved in the wrongdoings. Perry narrowly defeated Hightower in November 1990, garnering 1,864,463 votes (49%) to Hightower's 1,820,145 votes (48%).

Rove raised $3 million to raise Perry's profile, "while tarnishing the name of Jim Hightower" resulting in Perry's name becoming a "household name in Texas—and Hightower's name synonymous with corruption".

As Agriculture Commissioner, Perry was responsible for promoting the sale of Texas farm produce to other states and foreign nations, and for supervising the calibration of weights and measures, such as gasoline pumps and grocery store scales.

In April 1993, Perry, while serving as Texas agriculture commissioner, expressed support for the effort to reform the nation's healthcare, describing it as "most commendable". The healthcare plan, first revealed in September, was ultimately unsuccessful due to Republican congressional opposition. In 2005, after being questioned on the issue by a potential opponent in the Republican governor primary, Perry said he expressed his support only in order to get Clinton to pay more attention to rural healthcare.

In 1994, Perry was reelected Agriculture Commissioner by a large margin, getting 2,546,287 votes (62 percent) to Democrat Marvin Gregory's 1,479,692 (36 percent). Libertarian Clyde L. Garland received the remaining 85,836 votes (2 percent). Gregory, a chicken farmer from Sulphur Springs, Texas, was on the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority with Perry in the early nineties as a Republican but became a Democrat before running against Perry in 1994.

Lieutenant governor

In 1998, Perry ran for lieutenant governor. During this election, Perry had a notable falling out with his previous top political strategist Karl Rove, which began the much-reported rivalry between the Bush and Perry camps. Perry polled 1,858,837 votes (50.04 percent) to the 1,790,106 (48.19 percent) cast for Democrat John Sharp. Perry became the state's first Republican lieutenant governor since Reconstruction, taking office on January 19, 1999.

Governor of Texas

Main article: Governorship of Rick Perry
President George W. Bush and Texas Governor Rick Perry shake hands September 27, 2005, after a question-and-answer session at the Port Arthur airport. Port Arthur suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Rita.

Perry assumed the office of governor on December 21, 2000, following the resignation of George W. Bush—who was preparing to become President of the United States. He won the office in his own right in the 2002 gubernatorial election, where he received 58% of votes to Laredo oilman and businessman Tony Sanchez's 40%. He was re-elected in the 2006 gubernatorial election against three major opponents, polling 39% of votes against runner-up former U.S. Congressman Chris Bell of Houston with 30%. Former Republican Comptroller, Carole Keeton Strayhorn, running as an independent, garnered 18% of the vote and comic/author/musician, Kinky Friedman, also running as an independent, garnered over 12%. In the 2010 gubernatorial election, Perry became the first Texas governor to be elected to three four-year terms, polling 55% of votes to former Houston Mayor Bill White's 42%.

In the 2001 legislative session, Perry set a record for his use of the veto, rejecting 82 acts, more than any other governor in any single legislative session in the history of the state since Reconstruction.

Perry is one of five governors of Texas to have served three terms, the others being Allan Shivers, Price Daniel, John Connally and later Greg Abbott. He is the longest-serving governor in Texas history. He had served for 14 years by the time he left office, making him the second longest-serving U.S. governor at the time, behind Terry Branstad of Iowa.

Fiscal policies

In his presidential campaign, Perry highlighted the economic success Texas achieved under his governorship. The efficacy of Perry's economic policies has been questioned by some sources.

A proclaimed proponent of fiscal conservatism, Perry often campaigned on job growth and tax issues, such as his opposition to creating a state income tax. In 2002, Perry refused to promise not to raise taxes as governor, and in the following years did propose or approve various tax and debt increases. In 2009, Perry signed Grover Norquist's pledge to "oppose and veto any and all efforts to increase taxes".

Texas began borrowing money in 2003 to pay for roads and was projected to owe $17.3 billion by the end of 2012, increasing total state debt from $13.4 billion in 2001 to $37.8 billion in 2011. The state's public finance authority sold $2 billion in bonds for unemployment benefits, and it was authorized to sell $1.5 billion more if necessary. Texas federal borrowing topped $1.6 billion in October 2010, before the bond sales.

In 2003, Perry signed legislation that created the Texas Enterprise Fund, which has since given $435 million in grants to businesses. The New York Times reported that many of the companies receiving grants, or their chief executives, have made contributions to Perry's campaigns or to the Republican Governors Association. (Perry became chairman of the group in 2008 and again in 2011.) Perry was criticized for supporting corporate tax breaks and other incentives, while the state government was experiencing budget deficits.

Healthcare

Perry speaking at the Houston Technology Center in 2010

As governor, Perry was an opponent of federal health-care reform proposals and of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, describing the latter as "socialism on American soil". His focus in Texas was on tort reform, signing a bill in 2003 that restricted non-economic damages in medical malpractice judgments. Perry touted this approach in his presidential campaign, although independent analysts have concluded that it has failed to increase the supply of physicians or limit health-care costs in Texas.

During Perry's governorship, Texas rose from second to first among states with the highest proportion of uninsured residents at 26%, and had the lowest level of access to prenatal care in the U.S. Perry and the state legislature cut Medicaid spending. The Los Angeles Times wrote that under Perry, "working Texans increasingly have been priced out of private healthcare while the state's safety net has withered."

Perry's office said that Texas represents a model private-sector approach to healthcare. His spokeswoman said, "Texas does provide an adequate safety net to those truly in need... and many individuals simply choose not to purchase healthcare coverage."

Perry is anti-abortion and has signed bills with rules or restrictions for abortion procedures and funding for them.

In December 2011, Perry said he had undergone a "transformation" and now opposed abortions, even in cases of rape and incest. The next day he clarified that he would allow an exception for abortions that would save a mother's life.

In February 2007, Perry issued an executive order mandating that Texas girls receive the HPV vaccine, which protects against some strains of the human papilloma virus, a contributing factor to some forms of cervical cancer. Following the move, news outlets reported various apparent financial connections between Perry and the vaccine's manufacturer, Merck. Merck's political action committee has contributed $28,500 since 2001 to Perry's campaigns. Perry later reversed his position, calling the vaccine mandate a "mistake". In May 2007, the Texas Legislature passed a bill undoing the order; Perry did not veto the bill, saying the veto would have been overruled, but blamed lawmakers who supported the bill for the deaths of future Texan cervical cancer victims.

On July 1, 2011, Perry both had adult stem cell surgery in Houston and started "laying the groundwork" for the commercialization of the adult stem cell industry in Texas.

Religion

Perry speaking at the 2014 Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland

Perry grew up in the United Methodist Church. He and his family were members of Tarrytown United Methodist Church in Austin until 2010, when they began attending Lake Hills Church, a non-denominational evangelical megachurch in western Travis County. Perry told the Austin American-Statesman that he began attending Lake Hills because it was close to the rental home where he and his wife lived while the Governor's Mansion was being renovated.

In 2006, Perry said he believed in the inerrancy of the Bible and that those who do not accept Jesus as their Savior will go to hell. A couple of days later, he clarified, "I don't know that there's any human being that has the ability to interpret what God and his final decision-making is going to be."

In his 2008 book On My Honor, Perry expressed his views on the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause of the U.S. Constitution. "Let's be clear: I don't believe government, which taxes people regardless of their faith, should espouse a specific faith. I also don't think we should allow a small minority of atheists to sanitize our civil dialogue of religious references."

In June 2011, Perry proclaimed August 6 as a Day of Prayer and Fasting, inviting other governors to join him in a prayer meeting hosted by the American Family Association in Houston. The event was criticized as going beyond prayer and fasting to include launching Perry's presidential campaign.

Perry has called himself "a firm believer in intelligent design as a matter of faith and intellect" and has expressed support for its teaching alongside evolution in Texas schools but has also said that "educators and local school officials, not the governor, should determine science curriculum".

Education

In 2005, Perry said he would not "approve an education budget that shortchanges teacher salary increases, textbooks, education technology, and education reforms. And I cannot let $2 billion sit in some bank account when it can go directly to the classroom".

Following a second rejection of Perry's bill, Perry asked John Sharp to head a task force charged with preparing a bipartisan education plan, which was subsequently adopted.

In 2001, Perry expressed his pride in the enactment of the statute extending in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants who meet Texas' residency requirements. It also required the undocumented students to pledge to apply for permanent residency or citizenship if this became a possibility for them. In September 2014, Gov. Perry stated during a debate his continuous support for the program.

LGBT rights

Perry speaking at the 2015 Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Maryland

Perry is a firm opponent of LGBT rights and as both Governor of Texas and Secretary of Energy became controversial for his homophobic comments and anti-LGBT positions.

In 2002, Perry described the Texas same-sex anti-sodomy law as "appropriate". The following year, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the statute in Lawrence v. Texas, determining that it violated the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution.

In his 2010 book, Perry referenced the Lawrence decision, writing "Texans have a different view of the world than do the nine oligarchs in robes." In 2011, Perry admitted that he did not know about the Lawrence decision; when told that the Supreme Court case had struck down Texas's anti-sodomy law, Perry said: "I'm not taking the bar exam I don't know what a lot of legal cases My position on traditional marriage is clear I don't need a federal law case to explain it to me."

Perry supported Texas Proposition 2 in 2005, a ballot proposition that amended the Texas constitution by defining marriage as "only a union between a man and a woman" and prohibiting the state from creating or recognizing "any legal status identical or similar to marriage" (such as civil unions).

In 2011, after New York legalized same-sex marriage, Perry said it was their right to do so under the principle of states' rights in the Tenth Amendment. A spokesman later reiterated Perry's support for a federal constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, saying that position was not inconsistent, since an amendment would require ratification by three-fourths of the states.

After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015 that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples by the Constitution, Perry condemned the decision, saying: "I'm a firm believer in traditional marriage, and I also believe the 10th Amendment leaves it to each state to decide this issue."

In his first book, On My Honor, published in 2008, Perry compared homosexuality to alcoholism, writing that he is "no expert on the 'nature versus nurture' debate" but gays should simply choose abstinence. Perry's comments created immense controversy and drew ire from several LGBT rights groups.

During the 2012 presidential campaign, he criticized the repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy for the U.S. military. In a 2011 campaign ad, he stated: "there's something wrong in this country when gays can serve openly in the military" and later defended the ad, saying he was "very comfortable" with it. Perry said using foreign aid as a policy tool against foreign countries that violate the human rights of homosexuals was "not in America's interests" and was part of a "war on traditional American values".

Perry, an Eagle Scout, called on the Boy Scouts in 2013 to continue their ban on homosexuality.

Crime

Perry's campaigns for lieutenant governor and governor focused on a tough stance on crime. He has supported block grants for crime programs.

Jeff L. Blackburn, chief counsel of the Innocence Project of Texas, said of Perry that "He has done more good than any other governor we've ever had unless, of course, it involves the death penalty. On the death penalty, Rick Perry has a profound mental block."

In 2007, Perry signed a law ending automatic arrest for cannabis possession.

Death penalty

Further information: Capital punishment in Texas

Perry supports the death penalty. In June 2001, he vetoed a ban on the execution of mentally retarded inmates. In 2011, during a televised debate for presidential candidates, he said he had "never struggled" with the question of the possible innocence of any of the 234 inmates executed to date while he was governor.

Cases in which Perry has been criticized for his lack of intervention include those of Cameron Todd Willingham and Mexican nationals José Medellín and Humberto Leal Garcia.

Perry commuted the death sentence of Kenneth Foster, who was convicted of murder despite evidence that he was only present at the scene of the crime. Foster was convicted under a Texas law that makes co-conspirators liable in certain cases of homicide. In this case, it tied Foster to the triggerman. Perry raised doubts about the law and urged the legislature to re-examine the issue. "I believe the right and just decision is to commute Foster's sentence from the death penalty to life imprisonment," Perry said.

Perry also refused to grant a stay of execution in 2004 in the case of Cameron Todd Willingham, even though an investigation by the Texas Forensic Science Commission determined parts of the original investigation may not have looked at all of the evidence correctly. Perry said in 2009 that "Willingham was a monster. He was a guy who murdered his three children, who tried to beat his wife into an abortion so that he wouldn't have those kids. Person after person has stood up and testified to facts of this case that quite frankly you all aren't covering" and later replaced the chairman and other members of the Science Commission prior to a meeting on the case. The replacements were believed to potentially related to the election slated for the following year.

Infrastructure

In 2002, Perry proposed the Trans-Texas Corridor (TTC), a $175 billion transportation network that would include a 4,000-mile network of highways, rail, and utility lines and would be funded by private investors. Plans for the project were dropped in 2009 in favor of more incremental road projects. Opposition to the project, also called the "NAFTA super highway" garnered opposition from rural Texans, labor and environmentalists, the project became a major issue in the 2006 gubernatorial campaign.

Gun ownership

Perry has an A+ rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund. He possesses a Concealed Carry License (CCL) and has signed a number of bills that increased CCL access.

Mexico border

In 2005, Perry launched Operation Linebacker, which was intended to prevent terrorists from exploiting the Texas-Mexico border. There was no evidence that terrorists attempted to exploit the border. Perry touted the border security efforts as he campaigned for re-election. During Perry's governorship, he launched additional operations and persuaded the Texas legislature to devote more taxpayers' resources to border security. According to a 2022 investigative report by the Texas Tribune, "The way the governors and their administrations have tracked success has fluctuated over the years, offering little clarity into whether the state is closer to securing the border today than it was nearly 20 years ago. Neither the governor's office nor the DPS, the main agency leading border security efforts, can provide a full breakdown of the state-led operations since 2005, their duration, their cost to taxpayers and their accomplishments."

During a large surge in illegal immigration through the U.S. southern border in the summer of 2014, Perry criticized U.S. President Barack Obama, saying the surge was "a humanitarian crisis that he has the ability to stop". On July 21, 2014, Perry announced he would send in 1,000 National Guard troops to secure the border. Although illegal immigration levels declined over 70% after Perry deployed the National Guard, PolitiFact.com rated his claim that the decline resulted from the surge as "mostly false".

In 2016, The Texas Tribune wrote that "Perry has long been a critic of building a wall or fence along the border." After Trump won the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, Perry fully embraced Trump's proposed border wall.

Veto controversy and exoneration

Main article: Rick Perry veto controversy

On August 15, 2014, Perry was indicted by a Travis County grand jury. The first charge of the indictment was abuse of official capacity, which has since been ruled unconstitutional, for threatening to veto $7.5 million in funding for the Public Integrity Unit, a state public corruption prosecutors department. The second charge, which has also since been ruled unconstitutional, was coercion of a public servant, for seeking the resignation of Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg, a Democrat, after she was convicted of drunk driving and incarcerated.

Perry pleaded not guilty to both charges. Perry's supporters called the charges political and partisan, and several Democratic commentators, including David Axelrod, believed charges were weak.

In February 2016, Perry was cleared of all charges.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruled that courts could not limit veto power and that prosecuting Perry over his action violates "the separation of powers provision of the Texas Constitution" and infringed on Perry's First Amendment right to freedom of speech.

Retirement as governor

See also: Political positions of Rick Perry and 2016 United States presidential election

By the end of his third full term, he had served more than 14 consecutive years in office. A University of Texas at Austin–Texas Tribune poll released in June 2013, showed Perry leading potential primary challenger Attorney General Greg Abbott by double digits, 45–19%. In February, the same poll had Perry leading by a 3-to-1 margin (49–17%) of 32 points over Abbott.

However, Perry decided not to run for re-election to a fourth full term, announcing in front of family and supporters at the Holt Cat headquarters in San Antonio on July 8, 2013, that he would retire instead.

Perry retired with the 10th longest gubernatorial tenure in United States history at the end of his term on January 20, 2015, at 5,143 days as well as the record of the longest serving Texas Governor.

2012 presidential campaign

Main article: Rick Perry 2012 presidential campaign
Perry campaigning at the Iowa State Fair, August 14, 2011

Perry was considered as a potential candidate since as early as the 2008 presidential election, initially denying he was interested in the office but later becoming more open-minded. He formally launched his campaign on August 13, 2011, in Charleston, South Carolina.

While he was initially successful in fundraising and was briefly considered a serious contender for the nomination, he struggled during the debates and his poll numbers began to decline. After finishing fifth with just over 10% of the vote in the Iowa caucuses on January 3, 2012, Perry considered dropping out of the presidential race but did not. After a poor showing in New Hampshire and with "lagging" poll numbers in South Carolina, Perry formally announced he was suspending his campaign on January 19, 2012.

2016 presidential campaign

Main article: Rick Perry 2016 presidential campaign
Perry speaking at 2015 First in the Nation Republican Leadership Summit in New Hampshire

Almost immediately following the 2012 election, Perry was mentioned as a potential candidate for the presidency in the 2016 presidential election, with a Time magazine article in July 2013 saying that "everything is aligned for Rick Perry to be the Republican nominee for president in 2016."

Perry officially launched his 2016 presidential candidacy on June 4, 2015, in Addison, Texas. A version of the Colt Ford song "Answer To No One" boomed from loudspeakers, as Perry took to the stage. He then announced his candidacy at the scheduled press conference.

Perry withdrew on September 11, 2015—becoming the first in the field of major candidates to drop out—following poor polling after the first debate. In the weeks before he dropped out of the race, Perry's campaign was in dire financial straits, spending nearly four times as much as it raised.

On January 25, 2016, Perry endorsed United States Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) for president. On May 5, 2016, following the suspension of Cruz's presidential campaign, Perry endorsed Donald Trump for the presidency.

Secretary of Energy

Perry at the 2017 Energy Project Management Awards on March 22, 2017
Perry with Joe Manchin, Shelley Moore Capito, and David McKinley in 2017

On December 14, 2016, President-elect Trump nominated Perry as Secretary of Energy. The nomination initially faced heavy criticism as Perry had called for the Department of Energy to be abolished during his 2012 presidential campaign and had been unable to remember the name of the department during a Presidential debate. His nomination was approved by a 16–7 vote from the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on January 31, 2017.

On March 2, 2017, the United States Senate voted 62–37 to confirm Perry. The next month, Perry ordered a study of the U.S. electric grid with particular consideration to coal power.

In a CNBC interview on June 19, 2017, when asked about the role of human activity in the recent rise of the Earth's temperature, Perry said, "The fact is this shouldn't be a debate about, 'Is the climate changing, is man having an effect on it?' Yeah, we are. The question should be just how much, and what are the policy changes that we need to make to effect that?"

In July 2017, Perry strongly expressed his support for Donald Trump's ban on transgender people from serving in the U.S. military stating that "The idea that the American people need to be paying for these types of operations to change your sex is not very wise from a standpoint of economics."

In November 2017, Perry suggested that using fossil fuels to light dangerous places in Africa could reduce sexual assault, saying, "When the lights are on, when you have light that shines the righteousness, if you will, on those types of acts." Perry was criticized by the Sierra Club for "exploiting the struggle of those most affected by climate change".

For one week in November 2018, it was reported that the U.S. had become a net exporter of oil, temporarily ending nearly 75 continuous years of dependence on foreign oil.

On October 4, 2019, the New York Times reported that he was expected to resign as Secretary of Energy by the end of 2019, based on information from anonymous sources. On October 17, 2019, Perry told Trump he would resign by the end of the year, ultimately departing at the beginning of December.

Trump–Ukraine scandal

Main article: Trump–Ukraine scandal
Trump–Ukraine scandal
A request by U.S. President Donald Trump (right) to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (left) to investigate Joe Biden and his son sparked the scandal.
Events
List
People
White House
Justice Department
State Department
Defense Department
National Security Council
Intelligence
Congress
Ukrainians
Surrogates
Scholars
Related
Companies
List
Conspiracy theories
List

A little more than a month after Perry attended Zelenskyy's May 2019 inauguration, Ukraine awarded the contract to Perry's supporters after Perry recommended one of them to be Zelenskyy's energy adviser. The recommendation was made as Zelenskyy was attempting to secure the nearly $400 million in U.S. military aid. A week after Perry attended the inauguration, "Ukrainian Energy", a new joint venture between Michael Bleyzer's investment firm SigmaBleyzer and Alex Cranberg's Aspect Energy, submitted a bid for a 50-year drilling contract at a Ukraine government-controlled site called Varvynska.

Perry and Zelenskyy at Zelenskyy's May 2019 inauguration

A July 25, 2019 telephone call between Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy led in September to a whistleblower complaint and an impeachment inquiry against Trump. Two weeks after the inquiry was launched, Trump claimed in a conference call with Congressional Republican leaders that he had only made the telephone call at Perry's urging. Perry's spokesperson said that Perry had suggested Trump discuss energy security with Zelenskyy, but energy was not mentioned in the publicly released memo about the conversations, which instead focused on Trump asking Zelenskyy to launch investigations into Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, Crowdstrike, and the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Per Trump's direction earlier that year, Perry spoke with Rudy Giuliani about Ukraine, which Mick Mulvaney confirmed. Perry denied ever mentioning the Bidens in his discussions with Trump or Ukrainian officials. Mulvaney had put Gordon Sondland, Kurt Volker, and Perry in charge of managing the Ukraine–United States relations instead of diplomats at the National Security Council and the US Department of State.

Perry was mentioned in October 2019 by former U.S. officials in relation to reports he planned to have Amos Hochstein replaced as a member of the board at Naftogaz with someone aligned with Republican interests. Perry denied the reports. In November 2019, both Sondland and David Holmes, who serves as counselor of political affairs at the U.S Embassy in Ukraine, testified that Perry had played a senior role in the Ukraine campaign, with Holmes even describing Perry, along with Sondland and Volker, was one of the "Three Amigos" who directly assisted both Trump and Giuliani.

Career outside politics

In February 2015, Perry announced that he would join the board of directors of Energy Transfer Partners, which owns and operates one of the largest energy asset portfolios in the United States, and Sunoco Partners, another major Dallas energy company. According to SEC filings, Perry resigned from the boards of both companies on December 31, 2016. In early January 2020, Perry joined the board of LE GP, general partner of Energy Transfer. In February 2020, Perry rejoined MCNA Dental's board of directors as chief strategy officer and vice chairman.

Dancing with the Stars

Perry was one of the celebrities competing on season 23 of Dancing with the Stars in 2016. He was partnered with professional dancer Emma Slater. Perry and Slater were eliminated on the third week of competition and finished in 12th place out of 13 competitors.

Bibliography

Personal life

In 1982, Perry married Mary Anita Thigpen, his childhood sweetheart whom he had known since elementary school. They have two adult children, Griffin and Sydney. Anita attended West Texas State University and earned a degree in nursing. She has spearheaded a number of health-related initiatives such as the Anita Thigpen Perry Endowment at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, which focuses on nutrition, cardiovascular disease, health education, and early childhood development. She helped develop and host the Texas Conference for Women.

Perry played himself in minor roles for several feature films, including Man of the House, Deep in the Heart, and Hating Breitbart.

Perry is a member of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and was awarded its Gold Good Citizenship Medal.

Electoral history

Texas gubernatorial election, 2002
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rick Perry (incumbent) 2,632,591 57.81
Democratic Tony Sanchez 1,819,798 39.96
Libertarian Jeff Daiell 66,720 1.47
Green Rahul Mahajan 32,187 0.71
Independent Elaine Eure Henderson (write-in) 1,715 0.04
Independent Earl W. O'Neil (write-in) 976 0.02
Turnout 4,553,987 100.00
Texas gubernatorial election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rick Perry (incumbent) 1,716,803 39.03
Democratic Chris Bell 1,310,353 29.79
Independent Carole Keeton Strayhorn 797,577 18.13
Independent Richard "Kinky" Friedman 546,869 12.43
Libertarian James Werner 26,748 0.61
Independent James "Patriot" Dillon (Write-in) 718 0.02
Turnout 4,399,068 100.00
Texas gubernatorial election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rick Perry (incumbent) 2,733,784 54.97
Democratic Bill White 2,102,606 42.30
Libertarian Kathie Glass 109,057 2.19
Green Deb Shafto 19,475 0.39
Independent Andy Barron (write-in) 7,973 0.15
Turnout 4,979,870 100.00

See also

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Texas House of Representatives
Preceded byJoe Hanna Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 64th district

January 8, 1985 – January 8, 1991
Succeeded byJohn R. Cook
Political offices
Preceded byJim Hightower Agriculture Commissioner of Texas
January 15, 1991 – January 19, 1999
Succeeded bySusan Combs
Preceded byBob Bullock Lieutenant Governor of Texas
January 19, 1999 – December 21, 2000
Succeeded byBill Ratliff
Preceded byGeorge W. Bush Governor of Texas
December 21, 2000 – January 20, 2015
Succeeded byGreg Abbott
Preceded byErnest Moniz United States Secretary of Energy
March 2, 2017 – December 1, 2019
Succeeded byDan Brouillette
Party political offices
Preceded byBill Powers Republican nominee for Agriculture Commissioner of Texas
1990, 1994
Succeeded bySusan Combs
Preceded byTex Lezar Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Texas
1998
Succeeded byDavid Dewhurst
Preceded byGeorge W. Bush Republican nominee for Governor of Texas
2002, 2006, 2010
Succeeded byGreg Abbott
Preceded bySonny Perdue Chair of the Republican Governors Association
2007–2008
Succeeded byMark Sanford
Preceded byHaley Barbour Chair of the Republican Governors Association
2010–2011
Succeeded byBob McDonnell
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byBen Carsonas Former US Cabinet Member Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Cabinet Member
Succeeded bySonny Perdueas Former US Cabinet Member

References

  1. "Texas Almanac, 1988-1989 Page: 499". 1987. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
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